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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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WEBSTER, NY.  M580 

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Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographlques 


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The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibiiographicaliy  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0 

n 
n 

n 

n 
0 

D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagAe 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  peiliculAe 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReM  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
ha  B  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  ceia  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6tA  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  mellleur  exempiaire 
qu'li  lui  a  AtA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
da  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normaie  de  fiimage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


pn   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicuiAes 

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Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough> 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuie  Mition  disponibie 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I      I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

n~l  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

n~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Th« 
pos 
oft 
filn^ 


Ori| 
beg 
the 
sioi 
othi 
firs) 
sior 
oril 


The 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff( 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 
met 


□   Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  on:  At6  film6es  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  meilluure  image  possible. 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


1«X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


/ 


24X 


ax 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hee  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

University  of  British  CHumbia  Library 


L'exempleire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  Is 
g^nSro»M  de: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


The  imsges  sppesring  here  srs  the  best  quslity 
possible  considering  the  condition  end  legibility 
of  the  originsi  copy  end  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contrect  specificetions. 


Originsi  copies  in  printed  psper  covers  ere  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  end  ending  on 
the  lest  pegs  with  e  printed  or  illustrsted  impres- 
sion, or  the  beck  cover  when  sppropriste.  All 
other  originel  copies  ere  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  pege  with  e  printed  or  illustreted  impres- 
sion, end  ending  on  the  lest  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet*  de  I'exemplaire  filmi,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporta  unr  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'ill  jstration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fllmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comports  una  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  an  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbole  — »>  signifie  'A  SUIVRE".  Ie 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  kvn 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtra 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  ost  film6  A  paitir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thoda. 


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U.  a  DEPARTMENT  OP  AGRICULTURE 
DIVISION  OF  BIOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


(•I  AMERICAN  FATJNA 


No.  19 


[Actual  (late  of  publicatioa;  October  6,  lOQO] 


RESULTS  OF  A  BIOLOGICAL  REGONNOISSANOB  OF  THE  YUM  RIVfiR  REGION 


Oenetal  AciSomit  of  the  Begrion 
Aianottitiia.  X4st  of  Mammals      ^ 

By  Wilfred  H.  Osoood 


r> 


Anaotatod  Liat  of  Bigdu 

By  LoviB  B.  Bishop,  M.  D.  /'  ../  7- 

Prepared  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.   C.   HART    MERKIAM 

CIIIKF  OF  DIVISION  or  BIOUMICAL  8UKVBY 


WASHINGTON' 

OOVBRNMENT    PRINTING    O'VFICE 
1900 


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North  Am«rican  Fauna,  No.  n. 


Prontisp 


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Scoln 

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Frontispiccn. 


U.  S.  DKI'ARTMKNT  Ol'  ACiRlCUL  TURK 

DIVISION  (IF  l'.[()l,(i(iIC.\l,  SURVKY 


NORTH  AMERICAN  FAUNA 


ISTo.   19 


L  Actual  I  lutf  111'  |iiil)lici»tii(ii,  ( tiicilxT  ti,  liHK)] 


RESL'LTS  OF  A  IIIIIIJKIKWL  REniWOISS ANTE  OF  THE  Vl'lvOX  RIVER  REGION 


General  Account  of  the  Region 
Annotated  List  of  Mammals 

I>y    WlI.FHKI)    II.   Osiioilll 

Annotated  List  of  Birds 

i!y  Loiis  I'.  r.isiK.i-,  M.  1). 


I'rr|uir>'(l  iiiiiliT  IIk' iliri'i'tioii  (if 

Dr.    C.    HART     MERRIAM 

CHIKK  OK   DIVI.'^IdX    OK    I!IOI,<MilC.\l,   SllU'KV 


WASHINGTON 

(JOVKKNMKNT     PKTNTINO     OKPICK 

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LETTER    ()I<    TRANSMITTyVL. 


U.  S.   Dki'AUTMENT  ok   A(!UI("ULTUKK, 

Washimiton,  I).  ('.,  Jii/i/  i'<s\  miO. 

Sm:  I  huvo  tlio  honor  t<j  tran.sniit  for  publication,  as  No.  IM  of  North 
American  Fauna,  a  rqwrt  entitled  'Results  of  a  Biological  Keconnois- 
sanco  of  the  Yukon  River  Region,'  ])}'  Wilfred  H.  Osgood  and  Louis 
B.  Bishop. 

Under  instructions  dated  May  11,  1S91>,  AVilfred  IL  Osgood,  an 
assistant  in  the  Biological  Survey,  proceeded  t«  Skagway,  Alaska, 
and  thenco  over  White  Pass  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon  and  down 
the  entire  length  of  the  Yukon  River  to  St.  Michael.  Ho  was  accom- 
panied by  Dr.  Louis  B.  Bishop,  of  New  IIav«'n,  as  volunteer  assistant; 
Dr.  Bishop  has  prepared  the  report  on  the  birds  observed  during  the 
trip.  These  arc  the  first  investigations  of  the  kind  undertaken  on  the 
Upper  Yukon,  and  the  results  herewith  presented  will  T)0  found  to 
contain  many  important  facts  concerning  the  distribution  of  mammals, 
birds,  and  trees  in  this  region. 


Respectfully, 

Hon.  Jamks  Wilson. 

Secrctart/  of  A(jrl<-ultiire. 


V,.  Haut  Mkuuiam, 

Chief,  li'toli)(jlcal  SSiw^mij. 


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CONTENTS. 


w\ 


Vngo. 

General  account  of  the  region,  l>y  Wilfre<l  H.  Osgoo*! 7 

Itinerary 

Fauual  diMtrictfl 

Lyun  Canal  diatrict 

White  Pass  distri.t ^ 

Canadian  Yukon  district— Ijike  wilxliviHion 10 

River  HulxliviHion 

Iludsonian  Yukon  diHtrict 1^ 

Alaska  Tundra  diMtrict |° 

Summary  of  fauual  dirttrictH ^^ 

Previous  work 

T^T  • .-..1" 

^ew  siHicies 

MwnmalH  of  the  Yukon  region,  by  Wilfred  1 1.  Osgofxl ^| 

Intro«luction 

Lint  of  HiHicicH  and  Hul>Hi)ecieH 

Annotated  list  of  Hixicies -  ■ " 

BinlH  of  the  Yukon  region,  with  uoteH  on  other  HiK-ciex,  by  I^mia  li.  Hishop. .        47 

Introduction 

Clafl8ifie<l  listH  of  KiHJcieH ^ 

Annotated  list  of  Mpecien ; '' 


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ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fticliiff  Jiaffc. 

Pi<ATK       I.  Map  of  Alaska FrontiHpit'ce 

n.  Fig.  1.— Sunuiiit  of  White  I'asH. 

Fig.  2. — Canadian  police  station  at  Caribon  CroHsing 10 

III.  Fig.  1. — Cliffs  on  east  side  of  Lake  Ix'barge. 

Fig.  2. — Yukon  River  50  miles  l)elo\v  Fort  8elkirk(i 12 

IV.  Fig.  ]. — Nest.H  of  red  stpiirrels  in  spruce  thicket. 

Fig.  2. — Burrows  ma<le  by  red  scjnirrels  in  loose  scales  strii)iH'd 

from  spruce  cones 26 

V.   Skulls  of  Scinrua  vuncmivcrciuiK,  Sriiinta  hmhonimg  pelulaiu,  Xeo- 

toiva  ritwrea  ilmmmondi,  anil  Kcotoma  sa.raman» 34 

VI.  SkuUa  of  lAilreola vixon  energumenon,  Lufrmla  v.  hignm,  Fiber  zilitth- 

im»,  and  Fiber  xpnlulntns 42 

VII.  Skulls  of  Mii»U'la  wnericiDia  bniiiialin,  Miutliin  americmin  adunxn, 

ami  Muxteld  americmia 44 

6 


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No.  19. 


NOETH  AMERICAN  FAUNA.       October,  1900. 


10 
12 

26 
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42 
44 


RESULTS  OF  A  HIOLOGICAL  RE(!ONNOISSAN(!K  (H-'  THE  YUKON 

RIVER  REGION. 


GENERAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  REGION. 

15y  Wii.FKEi)  H.  Owiooi). 


Nowhere  else  in  North  America  i.s  such  a  vast  extent  of  boreal  coun- 
try so  easily  accessible  as  along  the  f  ukon.  The  navigable  waters 
of  the  river  l)egin  at  Tjake  Bennett,  only  85  miles  from  the  port  of 
Skagway,  on  the  coast  of  southeast  Alaska,  and  with  but  one  short 
interruption,  extend  northward  as  far  as  the  Arctic  Circle  and  then 
westward  to  Bering  Sea;  in  all,  a  distance  of  more  than  1,800  miles. 
The  recent  developments  resulting  from  the  discovery  of  gold  in  this 
region  include  a  modern  railroad  from  Skagway  to  Bennett  and  a  tram- 
car  service  around  the  dangerous  White  Horse  Rapids.  The  chief 
ohstaclos  to  ready  access  to  the  territory  have  thus  been  remo\'ed,  and 
an  oppoi'tunity  is  afforded  for  obtaining  specimens  and  information 
from  fi.  region  nuich  of  which  was  previously  unknown  to  naturalists. 
Accordingly,  with  Dr.  Louis  B.  Bishop  as  voluntiirj'  companion  and 
A.  G.  ^faddiHMi  as  assistant,  I  was  detailed  to  make  a  liusty  biological 
reconnoissance  of  this  region  during  the  sununer  or  lS!tU. 

ITINEUAUY. 

After  outfitting  at  Seattle.  Wash.,  we  sailed  via  the  Inside  Passage 
direct  to  Skagway,  Alaska,  where  wc  arrived  on  May  HO.  From 
Skagway  we  worked  slowly  over  AVhite  Pass  and  down  to  Lake  Ben- 
nett, at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Yukon.  Here  wo  eml)arked  in 
a  small  Hat-l)ottomed  boat  suited  to  our  needs  and  sailed  down  the 
scries  of  lakes  that  follow  one  another  for  nearly  200  miles.  Fi'oin 
the  lakes  wo  passed  into  Thirty-Mile  River,  thence  into  Lewes  River, 
and  finally  into  the  Yukon  proper,  stopping  freiptcntly  and  making 
collections  at  favorable  ])oints.     With  the  aid  of  the  swift,  even  cur- 

7 


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NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


Lf  I 


rent  we  were  able  to  make  easy  and  rapid  progress.  Thus  wo  con- 
tinued until  an  unfortunate  capsize  between  Fort  Yukon  and  Fort 
Hamlin  prevented  further  detailed  work  on  the  river,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  proceed  direct  to  St.  Michael,  where  a  month  was  spent  in 
collecting  on  the  coast  and  tundra.  Finall}',  late  in  September,  our 
work  Avas  brought  to  a  close  by  the  approach  of  the  long  arctic  winter. 
We  returned  to  Seattle  on  the  U.  S.  revenue  cutter  Corirm,  which 
stopped  on  her  way  for  a  few  hours  at  St.  George  Island  and  at 
Unalaska,  at  each  of  which  places  we  collected  a  few  birds. 

A  relatively  large  part  of  our  time  was  spent  in  the  White  Pass 
region  and  about  the  headwaters  .of  the  Yukon,  as  this  was  an  abso- 
lutely vii'gin  field,  whereas  part  of  the  lower  river  had  been  previoufly 
visited  by  naturalists.  We  were  unable  to  do  any  collecting  in  the 
mountains  which  lie  back  from  the  river,  owing  to  the  great  distance 
to  be  covered  and  the  shortness  of  the  season.  Legions  of  mosquitoes 
were  attendant  upon  us  almost  constantly.  At  first  they  seemed  posi- 
tively unljearable  and  vere  a  real  hindrance  to  the  vwrk,  but  we  gmd- 
ually  became  accustomed  to  them,  and  ])y  the  use  of  gloves,  head  nets, 
and  canopies  to  sleep  under,  managed  to  exist  in  compai-ative  comfort. 
Aside  from  insect  pests,  however,  outdoor  life  on  the  Yukon  in  June 
and  July  is  ver^'  enjoyable;  good  camping  places  are  abundant,  and 
the  weather  is  mild  and  beautiful.  During  the  latter  part  of  August 
and  in  September  strong  winds  swc(!p  »ip  the  river  and  frequent  rains 
occur. 

FAUNAT-   niSTRIOTS. 

The  country  traversed  may  t)e  divided  for  convenience  into  five  dis- 
tricts: (l)The  Lynn  Canaf  district,  (2)  the  White  Pass  district,  (3) 
the  Canadian  Yukon  district,  (4)  the  Hudsonian  Yukon  district,  and 
(5)  the  Alaska  Tundra  district.  These  districts  are  limited  in  a 
general  way  by  their  respective  life  zones,  )nit  they  are  not  of  «>qual 
extent  or  importiince,  and  the  names  applied  to  them  arc  used  not  to 
specially  designate  restricted  parts  of  zones  already  recognized,  but 
purely  as  a  matter  of  convenience.  They  are  longitudinal  districts — 
that  is,  they  are  very  nuich  longer  than  wide,  and  each  is  merely  a  nar- 
row tract  c()\ere(l  by  our  route  through  some  larger  faunal  region. 

Jjl/itu  Cft/Ki/  (h'xtrlcf.  Skagway  and  th(i  country  l)ordering  Lynn 
Canal  are  in  the  northern  part  of  that  faunal  area  which  Nelson  hius 
called  the  'Sitkan  districf  and  which  has  often  l)een  included  in  the 
Northwest  Coast  district.  The  trees  and  siiruhs  are  nuich  the  same  as 
those  at  Juneau,  Wrangeil,  and  other  points  farthtu' .south,  but  the  vege- 
tation is  not((uite  so  dcn.sc  and  luxuriant.  The  shores  of  Lynn  Canal 
are  steep,  rocky,  and  comparatively  spar.scly  timbered,  but  in  some 
places,  as  at  Haines,  low.  swampy  ground  aiul  heavy  saturated  f(»re,sts 
are  foiuul.     At  Skagway,  ]»oplars  (J'npuInK  tri  inula  id-en  and  I'ojudm 


I  I 


<KT.,1900.] 


KAIJNAL    DIHTKIOTS. 


9 


1  [ 


halmmifira)  arc  very  comuion;  they  share  the  river  bottom  witli  wil- 
lows and  extend  well  up  the  steep  canyon  sides,  where  they  occupy 
large  areas  a''.jacent  to  the  pines,  rirs,  and  spruces.  Skajjway  is 
surrounded  by  high  mountains,  and  its  fauna  is  limited  chiefly  by 
altitude.  Glacier  Station,  14  miles  distant,  and  about  l,i>()0  feet 
higher,  is  near  the  boimdary  between  the  Lynn  Canal  and  White  Pass 
districts.  The  station  is  situated  on  the  side  of  a  wooded  gulch  through 
which  a  fork  of  Skagway  River  flows.  The  immediate  vicinity  is 
similar  to  the  country  about  Skagway,  but  shows  the  influence  of  the 
Hudsonian  zone  of  the  White  Pass  district,  which  begins  only  a  short 
distance  beyond.  On  either  side  of  the  gulch  are  glaciated  granite 
cliffs  supporting  an  irregularl}'  distributed  vegetation,  chiefly  groves 
of  poplars  and  dense  thickets  of  alders,  while  in  the  bottom  of  the 
gulch  conifers  are  the  prevailing  trees.  The  most  common  trees  and 
shrubs  arc  lodgepole  pines  {Pinus  murrayana),  alpine  firs  {Ahies 
lasiocai'jMi)^  tidewater  spruces  [Pleea  sitc/um«ifi),  poplars  or  aspens 
{Populiwi  tremuloides  and  Populii^hahmnifera)^  alders  (^l^w?w  fimi(ata), 
dwarf  birches  {Betula  (jlanduUmd)^  currants  {Rihes  laxijloniir)),  and 
huckleberries  (  Vacclnium  (mall folium).  The  black  crowberry  {Empe- 
trum  ni(jriun)  and  several  other  heather-like  plants  occur  in  the  gulch 
but  are  n»ore  common  higher  up.  Along  the  trickling  streams  are 
many  ferns  and  mosses,  as  well  as  occasional  patches  of  the  lichen 
known  as  'reindeer  moss.'  Among  the  mammals  of  this  region  are 
the  Streator  shrew  {Sarex  p.  streatori),  the  Bangs  white -footed  mouse 
{Peromyacuf^  ()reax),,\hG  Dawson  red-backed  mouse  {Evokmiys dawnmit), 
the  long-tail(!d  vole  {Ifitrotitti  niordax),  and  the  red  squirrel  {Sciuniti 
h.  2>(it<tloiiH).  Characteristic  birds  are  the  sooty  song  sparrow  {Melo- 
spiza  in.  rufina),  the  Townsend  fox  sparrow  {Pa-'iserellft  /'.  townaend!)., 
the  Oregon  snowbird  {Janco  h.  ore<j</nius),  and  the  varied  thrush  {Ifen- 
per<u;i<;hJ<i  lurfvia). 

White  Pam  district. — ^The  summits  of  the  mountains  that  rise 
dinu'tly  east  of  Skagway  are  coven^d  with  glaciers  and  perpetual 
snow,  which  feed  numerous  streams  that  flow  down  l)etwe(Mi  mass- 
ive walls  of  granite.  The  sides  of  the  wider  canyons  hav(>.  been 
smoothed  and  scored  by  glaciatiori,  and  the  smaller  and  more  recent 
ones  are  but  jagged  i'ock-})ound  chiusms.  These  unfavorable  conditions 
cause  a  rapid  change  in  the  character  of  the  plant  and  animal  lif(>,  and 
from  (jrlaciiir  to  the  sununit  of  White  Pass  the  /ones  are  Hudsonian 
and  Arctic-alpine.  A  few  hundred  feet  above  Glacier  the  trees  l>ecome 
smaller  and  more  scattered,  and  at  Sunnnit  only  the  alpine  juniper 
{Jtinipi'nit<  mi/i(t),  the  b(>ar))crry  {Arctostuphyhix  uvam'x/'),,  and  depau- 
perat(^  .Ipine  hemlocks  {TsiKja  mertensiana)  occur.  Il(>athers  and 
mosses  prevail  and  large  areas  of  I'cindeer  moss  are  conspicuous. 
For  some  distance  on  the  sununit  of  White  Pass  (Plate  11,  lig.  I)  the 
eh'vationand  physiognipliy  arc  umch  the  same;  the  country  is  slightly 


11 


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10 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


rolling  and  ^'onsists  entirely  of  granite  rock,  about  which  ding  many 
mosses  and  heathers,  while  small  alpine  junipers  and  hemlocks 
struggle  for  existence  in  favorable  places.  The  breeding  birds  found 
with  these  Hudsonian  plants  Avere  ptarmigan  {Lagopus  inipesti'is  and 
Z.  leucuriui),  pipits  {Anthiis  pensil/vanimm),  rosy  finches  (Leuco»ticte  t. 
Uttotnlis) ,  and  golden  -crowned  sparrows  {Zonotriehia  coronata).  Char- 
acteristic mammals  noted  were  pikas  {Ochotona  collaris),  hoary  mar- 
mots (Arctfnnys  ealiffatus),  and  mountain  goats  {Oreamnos  montanus). 

Canadian.  Yukon  district. — Laka  mihdivimm:  Gn  the  north  side  of 
the  divide  the  hemlocks  are  soon  replaced  by  pines  and  spruces,  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  Shallow  Lake  the  boundaiy  of  the  interior  fauna  and 
flora  is  reached.  The  change  is  complete  at  Log  Cabin,  British  Coluni- 
1)ia,  nine  miles  from  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett,  where  the  chamcteristic 
features  of  the  Canadian  zone  are  again  established  and  the  genei-al 
a.spect  of  the  country  >  -i  very  different.  The  most  abundant  tree  is  the 
white  spruce  {Plcea  canadensis),  and  among  shrubs  seen  for  the  first 
timo  the  buffalo  berry  {Lepargyrfca  canadensis)  is  verj'  common. 
Birds  marking  a  change  of  fauna  are  the  slate-colored  junco  {Junco 
/ij/etnalis),  the  Alaska  jay  {Perisoreus  canadensis  fnmifroni^,  the  inter- 
mediate sparrow  {Ztmotrichia,  1.  (jamheli),  and  the  l)lack-poll  warbler 
{Dendroica  striata).  A  new  chipnm'  c  {Entamias  canicej)s)  is  very 
conspicuous.  At  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett  another  change  occurs; 
the  country  becomes  more  arid  and  rocky  and  there  is  a  tinge  of 
Hudsonian. 

Lake  Bennett  is  a  long,  narrow  sheet  of  water  inclosed  by  high 
granite  cliffs,  the  sides  of  which  are  often  so  steep  as  to  be  unfavora))le 
for  plant  and  animal  life,  and  whose  summits  are  doubtless  similar  to 
White  Pass  in  fauna  and  flora.  Cold  winds  .sweep  down  the  lake  much 
of  the  time,  and  cool  shadow.s  envelop  the  ea.st  side  most  of  the  fore- 
noon and  the  west  side  inoMt  of  the  afternoon,  so  that  opporttmity  for 
warmth  i)y  direct  sunlight  is  limited.  Hence  there  is  quite  a  strong 
Hudsonian  element  about  the  lake.  Among  the  plants'  collected  here 
are  the  pale  dwarf  laurel  (Kahtila  i/lauca),  the  Greek  valerian 
{Polemonimn  hnniih),  the  forget-me-not  {Myosotis  .sylvatica  alpestris), 
the  alpine  juniper  {Jiiniptrns  nana),  the  bush  cranberry  {Vihumum 
pa^icijforiiin).!  the  dwarf  bii-ch  {Bctala  t/Iandtdosa),  the  bearl>errv 
{Arctffsfa/diyfos  uvanrs/').!  the  }>utfalo  ))erry  {Lij>ar(jyr(t'a  c  .nadtmsi,-*), 
the  shadliush  {Ainelanchier  (dnifoUa),  the  Labrador  tea  {Ledinn  grwn- 
fandicniii),  and  the  black  crowl>erry  {Enqxtrwn  nigrnin).  Where 
trickling  streams  come  down  to  tiie  lake  alder  thickets  al)ound,  and 
along  tei'races  of  rock  clumps  of  pines  and  spruces  as  well  as  poplars 
find  support.  Among  Hud.sonian  mannnals  were  found  pikas  (^t7w- 
Uma  collar  is),  hoary  tnarmots  (Arctomys  raligatus),  and  Dall  sheep 

'  Identifiwl  by  F.  V.  Covillc,  cliicf  Ijotaiiist,  I'.S.  I)i'|irtrtiiiont  of  Agrieiilture. 


Noi 


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North  American  Fauna   No.  19. 


Plate  II. 


Fig.  1.— Summit  of  White  Pass. 


\     I 


><«' 


Fig.  2.— Canadian  Police  Station  at  caribou  Crossing. 


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OCT.,  1900.] 


FAUNAL    DISTRICTS. 


11 


{Ovin  dan*.).  Although  the  lake  widens  slightly  iit  its  lower  end,  its 
outlet  is  a  narrow  strean<  about  2  miles  long,  called  (Wibou  Cross- 
ing (Plate  II,  fig.  2),  on  thb  north  side  of  which  is  an  open,  gnissy 
swamp  bordered  by  willow  thickets.  This  low  country,  though  very 
limited  and  not  extending  to  the  next  lake,  affords  a  breeding  place 
for  a  few  mammals  and  birds  not  found  about  Bennett. 

Lake  Tagish,  which  receives  the  waters  of  Bennett  through  Caribou 
Crossing,  is  like  Bennett  in  character,  though  not  so  closely  walled, 
and  is  characterized  by  practically  the  .same  plants  and  animals.  The 
surrounding  mountains  are  covered  with  dense  forests,  which  in  many 
places  are  almost  impenetrable. 

Connected  with  Lake  Tagish  ])y  a  short,  narrow  stream,  known  as 
Six-Mile  River,  is  Lake  Marsh,  a  long  shallow  lak-.'.  on  each  side  of 
which  extends  low  country,  with  rolling  hills  farther  l)ack.  The  valley 
widens  here  tiuitc  appreciably,  and  the  open  country  is  like  that  at 
Caribou  Crossing.  On  the  east  side  are  sedgy  J)ogs  surrounded  by 
willow  thickets,  and  in  many  places  a  wide  margin  of  beautiful  green 
sedge  meets  the  edge  of  the  water.  Rocky  shores  are  found  at  some 
points  on  the  northwest  side,  but  in  general  the  country  is  low  and 
moist,  in  marked  contrast  to  that  about  Bennett  and  Tagish.  The 
mountain  animals  of  those  lakes  are  of  course  absent,  and  the  bird  life 
is  also  somewhat  different. 

Fifty-Mile  River,  into  which  the  Yukon  waters  proceed  from  Lake 
Marsh,  is  rather  narrow,  and  for  a  short  distance  at  White  Horse  Rap- 
ids ver}'  swift.  Its  banks  are  chiefly  al)rupt  l)luffs  of  sand}'  clay  (from 
60  to  100  feet  high)  l)ut  at  Miles  Canyon  it  is  confined  between  walls 
of  basalt.  Below  the  rapids  the  stream  widens  somewhat  and  the  high 
banks  ))ocome  less  frequent,  often  being  replace^!  by  low  ones  thickly 
grown  with  willows.  The  timber  is  .somewhat  .scattered,  and  on  the 
rolling  hills  ))ack  from  the  river  l)are  granite  spaces  may  ))c  fre(|uently 
seen.  At  the  head  of  Fifty -Mile  River,  we  first  met  with  birch  trees 
{Bt'tula  2>fipy'>''fcra  ?),  and  from  that  time  on  th(\v  were  seer,  daily. 
They  do  not  grow  to  large  size— trees  more  than  8  inches  in  diame- 
ter were  seldom  seen.  Several  small  streams  flow  into  Fift3'-Mile 
River,  which  favor  the  growth  of  thickets  of  aldt  .'s  along  their  banks 
and  large  clumps  of  willows  about  their  mouths.  The  little  l)oreal 
Hagvhrnah  {Ai'tfintsmyrigida)  grows  a))nndantly  on  the  warm  exptsed 
slopes  that  occasionally  alternate  with  the  .sandy  ])luffs.  Lodgepole 
pines,  are  also  abundant  and  frequently  occupy  large  areas  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  all  other  trees.  Spruce  and  poplar,  howt;ver,  are  still  the  strong- 
est elements  in  the  forest. 

From  Fifty -Mile  River  we  enter  Lake  Lebarge,  the  last  and  largest 
of  the  lakes.  All  about  its  clear,  cold  waters  are  low  granite  moun- 
tains (Plate  III,  fig.  1).  Oi'casionally  patches  of  heavy  spruce  forest 
are  found  near  the  water.  l)ut  in  many  ])laces  dirt's  rise  abruptly  from 


11 


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NORTH    AMKHTOAN    FAUNA. 


(NO.  W. 


the  water's  cdjje,  and  the  timber  is  very  sparsely  sprinkled  over  them. 
The  rocks  found  hero  and  a  few  in  Thirty-Mile  River  are  the  last  we 
saw  showing  signs  of  glaeiation.  Lake  Lebargo  is  quite  different  from 
Lake  Marsh,  and  is  more  similar  to  Lakes  Tagish  and  Bennett,  though 
all  the  Hudsonian  elements  of  these  are  not  present. 

River  mthdivision:  This  area  includes  the  section  from  the  foot  of 
Lake  Lebarge  to  the  mouth  of  the  Pelly  River  at  Fort  Selkirk.  There 
is  very  little  variety  in  the  character  of  the  country  between  these 
points.  Thirty -Mile  River,  which  proceeds  from  Lake  Lebarge,  is  a 
swift,  narrow  stream,  and  at  low  water  is  barely  navigable  for  small 
steamers.  A  conspicuous  feature  of  its  banks,  which  are  cut  a})ruptly 
like  those  of  Fifty -Mile  River,  is  a  narrow  ribbon-like  stratum  of  vol- 
canic ash  al)out  6  inches  below  the  surface  that  may  be  seen  wherever 
the  bank  is  exposed.  On  the  mountains  a  short  distance  from  the  river 
the  forest  of  spruce  is  heavier  and  purer  than  any  previously  noted. 
The  poplars  and  willows  are  more  confined  to  the  brink  of  thv-  river, 
and  the  birches  are  scattered.  Thirty-Mile  River  is  simply  that  por- 
tion of  the  Yukon  between  Lake  Lebarge  and  the  mouth  of  the  lloota- 
linqua  or  Teslin  River.  The  stream  is  greatly  augmented  by  the 
waters  of  the  Ilootalinqua,  and  from  this  point  on  to  Fort  Selkirk  is 
known  as  the  Lewes  River.  Below  the  Ilootalinqua  it  cuts  through 
the  Semenow  Hills,  for  the  most  part  abrupt,  rocky,  and  rather  barren 
mountains  from  2,000  to  3,000  feet  high.  Near  their  bases  and  iit  the 
water's  edge  are  forested  areas,  but  the  exposed  hillsides  are  covered 
with  boreal  sagebrush  {Artemisia  frigida),  with  here  and  there  a  pros- 
trate juniper  or  a  small  clump  of  spruces.  The  river  now  widens 
rapidly,  receiving  in  succession  the  waters  of  the  Big  Salmon,  the 
Little  Salmon,  and  the  Nordenskiold.  The  rolling  hills  are  somethues 
a  mile  or  several  miles  from  the  river  bank,  with  low  willow  swamps 
intervening.  Islands  varying  from  1  to  100  acres  in  extent  and 
covered  with  luxuriant  vegetation  are  abundant.  The  distribution 
of  trees  on  the  small,  regular-shaped  islands  is  very  unifonn,  the 
different  kinds  being  grouped  in  concentric  belts.  Alders  generally 
form  the  outer  margin;  next  come  the  willows;  next  the  poplars, 
rising  somewhat  higher;  and  finally  the  dark-green  spruces,  which 
occupy  the  central  area.  The  whole  effctit  is  quite  picturesque.  On 
the  largei-  islands  the  spruces  are  larger,  and  usually  predominate  to 
such  an  extent  that  almost  everything  else  should  be  classed  as  under- 
growth (including  trees  and  shrubs  l)elonging  to  the  genera  Almis, 
Salix,  Pojndu^i  Lejiargyraia^  Comus,  Vilmmum,  Rostt^  Ledum  ^  Yac- 
cinium,  Rlhett^  and  others).  Lodgepolc  pines  still  occur,  though  unlike 
the  spruces  they  nowhere  form  continuous  forest  and  disappear  entirely 
a  short  distance  beyond  Fort  Selkirk. 

The  Canadian  Yukon  district  as  a  whole  is  very  well  marked.  Char- 
actei'istic  mammals  are  the  gra^  -h(>aded<'hipnuuik  (7?MAf//;/r/.v  (•ti/iicej>-'<), 


■  t 


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"T 


North  Amutican  Faur.a,  No.  19 


Plate  III. 


'I 
I 


Fig.  1.— Cliffs  on  East  Side  of  Lake  Lebarge. 


Fig.  2.-YUK0N  River,  50  Miles  below  Fort  Selkirk. 


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OCT.,  1900.] 


FAUNAL   DIrtTRICrre. 


13 


r 


tho  Boiiiu^tt  jjrouiul  sciuirri'l  {Sj}en/i.<ij>hiliM  t'iiipetr(t,2>lix!"x),  tin'  North- 
ern luisliy-twili'd  rut  {Xiofoimt  ini,p(iiu(nij<),  whitc-foott'd  iiiico  {/Woiiii/h- 
cu«  oredH  and  Pcroinyncus  iiinui<:i(hitntt  at'ctic'ti.s),  and  tho  varying  huro 
{Lepuis  sal  hum).  All  of  these  species  and  three  of  tho  f^onom,  Entamids^ 
Neotoma,  and  /'i'roiiii/f<cK«,  find  their  northern  limits  in  thi.s  di.strict. 
Among  birds  that  aro  known  from  tho  Yukon  only  in  this  diati'ict  may 
bo  mentioned  tho  sparrow  hawk  {Faho  njxirrcriii^),  the  screech  owl 
{2f('</a«coj}n  amo  hnnlcoUi?)^  tho  night  hawk  {('hmlcilcH  v'/'f/iniann^t), 
tho  tree  swallow  {Tachijeinetd  It'colar),  tho Tennes.see  warl)ler  {Heliiiln- 
tJutphUd  jxircgrlna)^  tho  pileolated  warbler  (  Wtlx(ni in  juMil/ajulcoldfa), 
and  tho  mountain  blueliird  {Slalut  (irctiai).  Of  these,  Clmrde'den  is 
perhaps  the  most  noteworthy,  as  it  is  decidedly  a  southern  genus.  It 
is  very  common,  and  was  seen  nightl}'  from  Cari))ou  Crossing  to  Kink 
Rapids,  but  after  we  had  passed  that  i)oint  it  disappeared.  Its  range 
in  this  region  as  ol)served  l)y  us  is  prol)al)ly  accurate  and  corresponds 
with  tho  limits  of  tho  district.  Among  trees,  the  lodgepole  pine 
{Plnm  murraydnu)  is  coimnon  throughout  tho  district,  l>ut  does  not 
extend  beyond  it. 

Iludsonian  Yuhm,  (Ustrlci. — This  district,  as  here  considered, 
includes  nil  of  the  Yukon  region  from  Fort  Selkirk  to  the  limit  of 
trees.  Tho  Lewes  Itiver  is  joined  at  Fort  Selkirk  by  the  PcUy,  after 
which  the  increased  volume  of  water  flows  on  between  heavily  forested 
slopes  and  jutting  clifl's  (Plato  III,  fig.  2),  which  replace  tho  sandy 
banks  of  tho  upper  river.  From  the  mouth  of  the  Selwyn  rthward 
tho  topography  of  the  river  banks  is  but  slightly  different.  The  num- 
ber of  poplars  in  the  forest  is  nuich  increased;  tho  spruces  are  corre- 
spondingly decrea.sod  not  only  in  number  but  also  in  size;  while  the 
birches  about  hold  their  own,  and  tho  pines  are  lot  present  at  all, 
.  having  disappeared  between  Fort  Selkirk  and  the  mouth  of  tho  Selwyn 
River.  As  wo  approach  Dawson  spruces  become  dwarfed  and  entirely 
sulx)rdiuate  to  the  poplars,  which  crowd  their  bushy  tops  together  for 
miles  and  miles.  Tho  spruces  are  in  the  gulches  and  in  small  clumps 
elsewhere,  and  a  few  are  scattered  about,  their  dark-green  spike  tops 
showing  off  well  against  tho  billowy  mass  of  tho  lighter  foliage  of 
poplar  and  birch.  The  imdcrgrowth  remains  nuich  tho  same,  and 
deep  moss  covers  the  ground  and  rocks.  In  damp  sandy  places  along 
shore  and  on  islands  occasionally  overflowed  a  bright-green  scouring 
rush  {Equlsetavi)  grows  so  abundantly  as  to  bo  a  chanicteristic  plant. 
Tho  alpine  juniper  {Jimiperus  nayui)  is  found  occasionally  on  hill- 
sides not  too  thickly  grown  with  poplars,  and  on  the  more  open  hill- 
sides tho  landscape  is  brightened  by  masses  of  firoweed  {ClMmmnerion 
angmt'k folium)^  for  even  hero  forest  fires  aro  not  a  noveltj'. 

Two  more  largo  rivers,  tho  AYhito  and  tho  Stewart,  empty  into  the 
Yukon  in  this  vicinity.  About  the  mouths  of  these  and  other  tributaries 
is  more  or  less  low  country  covered  with  willows.     Islands  l)ecome 


i 


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N()KTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


(NO.  19. 


still  ni()n>  miiuerous  and  lar^LT,  and  hav(i  a  fonvst  jirowth  that  is  inoro 
unifoi'in  in  rlmractci'  than  that  of  th(i  rivtT  banks.  High  clill's  over- 
hanging tho  I'iver  are  of  fre([uent  ofcurnMicp. 

From  Dawson  to  tho  Ahiska  ])oundary  and  thonco  to  Ciivlo  tho 
country  is  about  tho  same.  For  a  long  distanco  in  tho  vicinity'  of  tho 
boundary  a  rango  of  high  mountains  is  visible  to  tho  northward  on  the 
right  bank  of  tho  river.  Tho  low,  rolling  hills  whieh  bordc'r  tho  upper 
river  do  not  quite  reach  Circle,  but  are  replaced  by  a  broad,  flat  country 
knoAvn  as  tho  'Yukon  Flats,'  which  extends  from  near  Circle  to  Fort 
Hamlin,  a  distance  of  al)out  200  miles.  Through  the  '  Flats '  the  course 
of  tho  river  ])rcaks  up  into  a  great  many  channels,  and  tho  i.slands 
still  further  increase  in  size  and  numl)er.  These  are  composed  of 
sand  and  silt,  in  which  poplars  thrive  l)etter  than  spruces,  though  the 
latter  aro  1)}'  no  means  eliminated.  A  wild  roso  {Rosa  clnnamounjaf) 
is  the  most  abundant  shrubby  plant,  and  on  the  ground  ]>elow  it  the 
Eqtmetuiii  is  rampant.  Tho  hirger  islands  are  identical  in  character 
with  the  mainland,  and  on  them  the  spruces  form  (piito  a  heavy  forest, 
with  deep  moss  beneath.  At  Fort  Ilamlin  the  river  narrows  again 
and  flows  l)etween  rolling  wooded  hills,  which  are  similar  to  many 
farther  up  the  river.  Small  strciuns  enti'r  the  main  river  freijuently, 
and  tho  timber  is  imich  the  same;  poplars,  alders,  and  Ijin-hes  cover 
the  hills  in  dense  thickets,  through  which  spruces  are  sprinkled. 
Alders  are  more  numerous  than  before.  The  hills  vary  in  height 
from  500  to  3,000  feet,  and  the  highest  have  a  distinct  tim])erline  at 
a))Out  2,000  feet.  At  tho  mouth  of  tho  Tanana  the  hills  l)ecome  smaller 
and  the  river  very  much  wider.  Here,  at  Fort  (liblion.  Dr.  Bishop 
found  tho  larch  (Larix  (tinerumui)  quite  abundant.  This  was  the  only 
point  at  which  it  was  seen  by  any  of  our  part}'. 

The  Lower  Yukon  beyond  tlie  Tanana  is  very  uniform  in  character. 
Tho  banks  are  low  and  rolling  and  overgrown  with  willows  and  alders; 
farther  back  arc  higher  hills  covered  with  poplars  and  birch;  occasion- 
ally tho  summits  of  a  few  hills  higher  than  the  rest  are  devoid  of 
trees.  On  the  sandy  islands  the  willow  thickets  are  impenetrable,  and 
where  a  cut  bank  exposes  a  section  of  them  their  slender  pei-pendicu- 
lar  trunks  stiuid  so  closeh'as  to  present  a  solid  front  like  a  thick  hedge 
or  canel)i"ake.  Thus  it  continues  until  tho  limit  of  timber  is  reached 
at  Andraefski,  DO  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon. 

This  district  as  a  whole  is  characterized  by  absence  of  southern 
plants  and  animals.  Among  migratory  bii-ds  a  few  have  their  center 
of  abundance  farther  south,  l)ut  all  tho  mammals  are  northern  forms, 
and  nearly  all  belong  to  geneiii  of  circumpolar  distribution.*  Plant 
life,  though  quite  luxuriar*.,  is  made  up  of  only  a  small  number  of 
hardy  species.     Characteristic  mammals  are  the  Foi-t  Yukon  ground 

'The  only  exceptions  are  Si/iuiptomyn,  Fiher,  mid  lirHhizon. 


+ 


t 


II  n! 


^ 


OCT.,  1000.) 


KAL'NAL    DISTKIOTH. 


15 


I 

t 

t 


squirrel  {SptrntophtluH  osyoodl),  Daw.son  rcd-hucked  iiu»us»',  {Ki'nttninjH 
daitwm!),  ycllow-o.heekcd  vole  {MIcrotnx  iraidlKxjindlnix),  Yukon  Xkhw- 
ming {Lc/ninu)i i/idi»h  iij^t's),  Dull  varyinjj  hiiro  {Lcjxin (inui'lmnHs d<dl!)^ 
and  tundra  weawcl  {PatorliiH  arctioin).  Of  the  bird.s,  tho  nio.st  char- 
acteristic aro  tho  duck  hawk  (^Falco  jxireyr'mus  anatuni),  pigeon  hawk 
{Falco  coluinharlut<)^  Alaska  longspur  {fcdrarinM/tippmiciM  (dit>icc'tm«), 
hoaiy  redpoll  {AcaidhiH  hoiitemainii,  r.rdiprtt)^  f'>x  sparrow  {PdnstTcNu 
iliaca),  Bohemian  waxwing  {AmpelLs  (jiutuIuh)^  and  wheatear  {Saxicola 
mnanthe). 

Alaska  Tundra  d/Mrief. — Tho  Yukon  from  Andraefski  o  tho  coast 
of  Norton  Sound  is  bounded  on  l)oth  sides  ))y  typical  tundra.  Tho 
country  is  low  and  gently  imdulating,  and  its  surface  a  short  distance 
away  appears  to  bo  thickly  carpeted  with  grass,  '"hat  this  is  not  tho 
real  condition  a  short  walk  ashore  soon  demonstrate."- ;  but  tho  delusion 
is  so  lompleto  that  were  it  not  for  the  pn'sence  of  tho  great  river  one 
migl  fancy  himself  looking  out  over  the  luidulating  plains  at  the 
eastern  base  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains  in  the  western  l^nitiid  States. 

Tho  flora  of  tho  tiuidra,  though  devoid  of  trees  deserving  of  tho 
name,  is  found  on  careful  examination  to  1)0  (piite  varied.  Besides 
tho  numerous  mosses  and  heathers  and  man}'  sniaii  berry-))earing 
plants  aro  dwarf  willoAvs,  birches,  and  ald(M's,  Tho  alders  attain  tho 
greatest  size,  but  aro  usually  found  in  isolated  clumps  in  favorable 
spots,  where  they  often  grow  from  (>  to  8  feet  high.  Tho  ground  is 
frozen  a  few  inches  below  the  surface,  and  the  heavy,  spongeliko  cover- 
ing of  vegetation  is  kept  constantly  saturated.  Occasioiud  high  bluffs 
on  tho  coast  in  exposed  situations  aro  ])leak  and  bai'e,  but  besides 
these  there  is  scarcely  a  spot  not  covered  with  low,  matted  vegetjition. 
Numerous  small  ponds  aro  irregularly  distributed  over  tho  tundra, 
and  around  them  tho  vegetation  is  ranker  than  elsewhere.  Broken 
lava  borders  tho  shores  of  St.  Michael  Island,  and  small  moss-covered 
heaps  of  it,  which  form  practicall}'  the  only  .solid  footing  on  tho  island, 
aro  scattered  al)out  over  tho  tundra. 

Characteristic  manunals  at  St.  Michael  aro  tho  Hall  Island  fox 
( Vidj>es  hallenais).  Nelson  vole  {Micro/Kn  ajft'/'ar/'un),  tundra  red-))acked 
mouse  (H/ootoniys  dawsoni,  ahiscensit^),  Nelson  pied  lenmiing  {Dicro- 
sUmyx  ndwni),  Alaska  le;  Miing  {Lemmas  ahuscem^is),  and  Alaska  Arctic 
haro  {Lepnti  othm).  Land  )irds  known  to  breed  are  the  hoary  redpoll 
{Acantlm  hornemanni  etl/pefi),  common  redpoll  {Acaidhis  llnaria), 
Alaska  longspur  {Calcarlus  lapponious  ala«ctii{iif<),,  Avestern  tree  spar- 
row {SpheUa  montlcoJa ochraccd)^  golden-crowned  spai'row {Zonotrichia 
cotaiiatu),  and  Sil>orian  yellow  wagtail  {Btidyhs  farus  h'ncasti'iaf.Uf<). 
Connuon  tundra  plants'  aro  Caasiopea  tetragoiia^  Amlromalapolifolia^ 
Vaccinhnn,  vUisidim^  2fairania  alj)ii)a,  Lediiin,  jKdxiMrc,  Artemisia 

'Nelson,  lioimrt  uikju  Nuturnl  History  Collections  in  Aliuska,  ISO,  1887. 


!^  I 


:|| 


m 


^1; 


':,! 


1 


il       i    ! 


16 


NORTH    AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19, 


arcttca,   Ruhus  clkanicemm-m^    Ruhm   arcticm,  Betula  nana,   Alnus 
sinua/i(,  ChamcBci^tm ^rroowmfi^^'s,  and  Turn llago  frig ida. 

aUMMAKY  OF   FAUNAL   UISTUICTS. 

All  tho  country  here  considered  is  in  the  Iwreul  zones,  the  Tundra 
district  and  a  small  part  of  the  White  Pass  district  belonging  to  the 
Arctic  subdivison,  and  the  Yukon  Valley  principally  to  the  Hud- 
sonian,  though  it  has  also  a  well-marked  Canadian  section.  Birds 
are  c(,  •iparatively  nire  in  all  the  interior  region,  and  it  is  difficult  to 
determine  the  exact  range  of  many  species.  Some  were  seen  but 
once  or  twice;  others  appeared  sporadically  at  rather  long  intervals; 
while  still  others  that  are  known  from  the  region  wen^  not  seen  at  all; 
so  it  is  hardly  safe,  in  making  generalizations,  to  rely  too  much  on 
the  ranges  observed  by  us.  The  distribution  of  trees  and  shrubby 
plants  and  of  many  of  the  mammals,  however,  could  bo  determined 
with  much  greater  accuracy  and  constitute  relitJ)lo  guides  in  fixing 
the  limits  of  the  districts.  These  districts  are  in  general  the  same 
as  those  recognized  by  Nelson,  but  with  more  definite  and  somewhat 
modified  limits.  Names  slightly  different  from  those  he  used  are 
adopted  here  in  order  to  agree  with  the  commonly  accepted  names 
of  the  primary  zones  of  North  America.  Thus  tho  part  of  his  'Alas- 
kan-Canadian' district  here  considered  is  called  the  'Hudsonian 
Yukon'  district,  since  it  lies  entirely  within  the  tmnscontinental  Hud- 
sonian zone.  Owing  to  fluviafile  conditions,  tho  boundaries  of  the 
Yukon  districts  doubtless  do  not  agree  in  latitude  with  those  which 
might  be  made  away  from  the  rivers." 

The  zones  which  we  successively  traversed  in  going  from  Skagway 
to  St.  Michael  via  White  Pass  and  tlio  Yukon  are:  (1)  Canadian;  (2) 
Hudsonian;  (8)  Arctic-Alpine;  (4)  Canadian;  (5)  HudsGr.i'ui.  and  (H) 
Arctic.  The  Lynn  Canal  district  is  in  the  Canadian  zone,  but  it  has 
some  slight  peculiarities  such  as  are  to  be  expected  in  a  coast  district. 
Though  it  does  not  have  the  Hudsonian  animals  of  the  northern  coast, 
it  lacks  seveml  of  tho  typical  Canadian  forms  of  the  coast  farther 
south.*     It  is  really  near  the  northern  limit  of  the  Canadian  zone  on 

•The  coast  of  Alaska  Houth  of  tho  iieninmila,  or  what  litw  boon  known  as  the  'Sit- 
kan  district,'  may  Ik^  eaaily  (livitle<l  into  two  dlHtrict*)  corr(»<(., Hiding  to  tho  Canmlian 
and  Hudsonian  zones.  Lynn  Canal  iH  Hituatcd  near  tho  hounchiry  lH!tweon  tliese 
districtH.  /inion^  Canadian  niainnialH  wiiich  have  their  contor  of  al)undanco  in  the 
re8tri<'t<.'d  Sitkan  district  on  tho  ooa»'t  soutli  of  Lynn  Canal  an-:  Odoivi'eiiH  sitkciwiit, 
Sciurwi  vancmivcrensU,  Peromi/Hrwi  mnrrorhinm,  I'Jvotomiin  irninydi,  Microtics  tiuKriirus, 
Synaptomya  tornni/eli,  Zapii«  mltnlor,  and  .Vi/o//.'i  filnnrmxiK.  Anionjf  tho  Hiidsoniaii 
forms  found  on  the  coast  only  north  of  T;yiin  Canal  are:  Il<in<f\fer  sp.,  Oris  dalli, 
SduniK  hwhtmlruK,  Sfifrmophilun  r.  plesiiis,  /,<iimK  h.  alaticfiisis,  Ochotnua  rnllari»,  and 
Mi/oUk  liirifuffii*.  Anions  trt'oH  which  find  their  northern  limit  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lynn  Canal  are:  Thujn  pliralu,  AhifH  laHlonirpti,  and  I'iiin.i  murmi/aiin.  Tho  northern 
district  from  Lynn  Can  il  to  Kadiak  in  ho  Himilar  to  tii''  ^-'oat  intoiior  llndHonian 
region  that  it  hardly  meritH  rocojjnition  a."  a  distinct  district,  but  it  certainly  should 
not  b«'  includca  in  tho  Hitkaii  district. 


.19, 

mm 


O(rr.,1900.] 


SUMMARY    OF   FAIFNAL    DWTRICTrt. 


%1 


the  Pacific  coast.  The  occurrence  at  Skagway  of  inaininalH  of  the 
interior,  such  as  Mlcrotm  mordax^  I'Jcatomys  (knmon  i ,  and  IWomyscua 
oreas^  seems  to  show  an  approach  to  the  condition  farther  north  where 
the  coast  and  interior  forms  are  practicall}'  the  same.  The  Canadian 
zone  of  the  Lvnn  Canal  district  gives  way  to  the  Hudsonian  and 
Arctic- Alpine  in  the  White  Pass  district.  The  character  of  this  dis- 
trict is  essentially  the  same  as  that  of  other  mountain  regions  in 
western  North  America.  This  is  Avell  indicated  by  the  fact  that  its 
mammals  include  the  hoary  marmot  {Arctoniyx  ccdi(jatm)^  the  Alaska 
pika  {Ochotoitd  coUarin)^  and  the  mountain  goat  {On'fiinnos  mantanua)^ 
and  its  birds  the  ptarmigan  {Lagopnn  /eiwurnn  and  Z.  rupestrifi),  the 
Tg\\}\i{AiifliiiK])i  tiHllmnicKx)^  andth(>  rosy  finch  {Leucobtlctot.  Uttonilis^, 
The  Canadian  Yukon  district  from  Bcnncitt  to  Fort  Selkirk  merely 
represent.-)  the  extent  to  which  our  route  entered  the  extreme  northern 
part  of  the  Can  idian  zone;  that  is,  its ''mits  are  those  of  the  section 
that  our  route  made  across  the  crul  of  a  narrow  tongue  which  extends 
northward  from  the  great  areas  ()(<"ui)ied  l)y  the  Canadian  zoiie  farther 
south.  Owing  to  its  being  .so  near  the  l)()rder  of  the  Ihulsonian  zone, 
its  chara«'ter  is  not  purely  Canadian,  but  the  presence  of  such  forms 
as  chipn-unks  {Euti(iin((><)  and  white-tooted  mice  {Pt'/-»iiit/sct/,s)  among 
miiaimal.s,  night  hawks  {Chordelles)  among  birds,  and  lodgepole  pines 
{Pinus  inut'rayanii)  'Awwn^  trees,  makes  it  evident  that  the  Canadian 
element  is  very  strong.  T'he  riudsoniun  Yukon  district  represents  the 
complete  section  which  the  Yukon  River  makes  through  the  great 
noi'thern  forest  belt  of  the  Hudsonian  zone.  This  belt  corresponds  to 
the  Alaskaiv-Canadian  district  outlined  by  TSelson.  it  is  bounded  on 
the  south  by  tlu-  Canadian  zone  and  ti)e  extreme  northern  limit  of 
southern  foi-nis,  and  on  the  north  hy  the  treeless  tundra.  On  the  west 
it  probatily  reaches  and  includes  the  coast  from  Kadiak  to  Lynn  Canal; 
on  the  ea.st  its  liniits  are  unknown.  The  Alaska  Tundra  district  defines 
itself.  Its  character  is  the  com])ined  result  of  latitude  and  rigorous 
coast  climate.  Our  experience  in  this  treeless  district  was  limited 
to  St.  Michael  Ishmd  and  the  ninety  miles  between  Andracfski  and  the 
numth  of  the  Yukon.  The  animals  of  this  region  are  not  all  ab.so- 
lutely  contined  to  it,  many  of  them  ranging  some  di.^tance  into  the 
forest  belt.  Sniiill  mammals,  such  as  the  Nelson  vole  {Mlrrofm  02>e- 
rdi'iitx),  occupy  so-called  'islands' — local  spots  ottering  what  are  prac- 
tically tundra  conditions  -as  fai'  within  tlu^  f(H'est  belt  as  Circle. 


'Tlio  WW  of  MinvtiiK  vwnld.r  at  tlin  lu'iiil  of  Lyim  Canal  i.-<  |iartic'iilarly  interesting, 
niiice  a  clowi'ly  related  form,  M.  mncruniy,  \nw  l)eeii  found  at  (i lacier  Bay  on  tlie 
nortli  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  eanal  and  also  at  Juneau  on  the  nout.i  fide,  and 
would  therefore  !)«  exiH'cted  at  Sltafiway,  whieti  is  halfway  hetween.  .\«™niing 
tliat  (/KKvvinf.t  has  l)ceii  dinperned  froia  the  soutli  northward  on  the  coa-st,  it  seems 
that  it  did  not  reach  Glacier  l?ay  hy  way  of  the  present  niainlann,  otherwise  it  would 
be  found  at  Ska^way.  .U.  »(()»•.'  ■  doubtless  rcuclied  iskugway  from  the  interior. 
i4'J4— No.  "lU 2 


*     I 


I    ! 


IT 'r^ 


ii 


11 


if 


18 


NORTH    AMKRICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  li». 


The  fauna  of  tho  Yukon  l)asin  as  a  whole  is  composed  of  two  prin- 
cipal elements,  one  containing  al)soIutcly  circumpolar  forms,  cvidentl}' 
derived  from  the  north,  the  other  contjiining  forms  which  have  their 
center  of  abundance  farther  south.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the 
mammals.  Among  the  genera  belonging  to  the  north  may  be  men- 
tioned Rangife)\  Evotoniyn,  Lemmua,  and  DuroHtonyx,  all  of  which 
are  circumpolar  in  distribution;  those  from  farther  south  are  Alces^ 
Sciuropterus,  Eutamias,  Peromyscu^,  NeoUmia,  Fihe)\  and  Synaptomyn. 
With  the  exception  of  alpine  species  and  a  few  wide-ranging  forms, 
chiefly  carnivores,  the  ^•ariations  of  which  are  not  sufficiently  known 
to  be  of  use  in  deflning  faunal  regions,  no  species  of  manmials  are 
common  to  the  Yukon  region  and  the  Sitkan  coast  district.  From 
this  it  seems  that  all  the  southern  forms  which  reach  the  Yukon  region 
have  been  derived  from  the  interior  rather  than  from  the  coast.  This 
is  also  true  of  the  trees  and  to  a  great  degree  of  the  birds.  But,  on  the 
other  hand,  some  species  of  land  birds  are  common  to  the  lower  Yukon 
and  the  Sitkan  district  while  a  large  interve-  !ig  area  in  the  interior  is 
uninhabited  by  them.'  Srhii^phorHK  rufm,  Dcmlrolca  towtiseiidl,  and 
Ilyloclchla  aotialuschl'iv  were  found  on  both  sides  of  White  Pass,  but 
only  rarely  and  for  a  very  short  distance  on  the  interior  side. 

PRKVIOUS  WORK. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  natural  history  of  the  Yukon  region  has  been 
derived  chiefly  from  two  sources — the  members  of  the  Kusso- Ameri- 
can Telegraph  Expedition  and  the  Signal  Service  officers  formerly 
stationed  at  St.  Michael.  The  first  information  was  gathered  by  the 
scientific  corps  of  the  Telegraph  Expedition  of  1865  to  1808.  Promi- 
nent among  the  members  of  this  corps  were  Robert  Kennicott,  Wil- 
liam H.  Dall,  and  J.  T.  Kothrock,  all  of  whom  secured  valua))le  speci- 
mens und  information.  The  notes  of  Kennicott  were  not  published, 
owing  to  his  untimely  death  at  Nulato,  May  13,  1866,  but  numerous 
specimens,  particularly  from  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Yukon,  are  now  in  the 
National  Museum,  a  moinunent  to  his  faithful  pioneer  work.  An)ong 
the  numerous  papers  on  various  subjects  relating  to  Alaska  published 
by  Dail  are  lists  of  birds  and  manunals.''  A  list  of  plants  including 
some  records  from  Fort  Yukon  was  published  by  Kothrock.'' 

'One  of  thcTO  wpecies  is  tho  varied  tliruHh  { Hrnjxrocirhla  ninna)  which  wan  found 
in  the  Lynn  Canal  district,  hut  not  in  any  numlHTH  ir.  tiie  Yukon  Valley  alwve  I)a\v- 
Hon.  Below  Dawson  it  is  (juite  coninion  along  the  Yukon  and  undoubtedly  ))reedH 
there.  It  is  well  known  to  ran>j;e  ulonjj;  the  Pacific  L-oast  to  Kudiak,  and  thence  to  the 
shoreH  of  Kotzehue  Sound  and  up  the  Kowak  River.  It«  abaenco  on  tho  ITpiwr 
Yukon  and  its  occurrence  all  alonjr  the  coast  make  it  extremely  probable  that  in 
reaching  tho  Yukon  its  course  of  migration  is  up  the  river  from  its  mouth. 

'List  of  Birds  of  Alaska,  by  \V.  II.  Dall  and  II.  M.  Bannist«>r<''Trans.  Chicago  Acad- 
emy of  Scionces,  I,  pt.  11,  2()7-.'5l(),  1800;  also  Alaska  and  it«  liesourccs,  by  \V.  IJ. 
Dall,  Boston,  Lee  &  Shepard,  1870. 

"Sketch  of  the  Flora  of  Aliwka,  by  J.  T.  Rothrouk<  Annua'  Report  Huiithsoniau 
Institution,  1807,  433-403. 


"t 


I 


.1S». 


i 


OCT.,  1900.] 


NEW   8PECTE8. 


In  1S74,  with  the  estal>]isLinent  of  a  meteorologic^al  ntation  at  St. 
Michael,  work  was  begun  ])y  Lucien  M.  Turner.  lie  collected  al)out 
St.  Michael  and  secured  specimens  from  the  fur  traders  and  natives 
on  the  Yukon  as  far  up  as  Fort  Yukon,  The  results  of  his  work  Avere 
published  in  the  Arctic  Series  of  the  Signal  Service.' 

Turner  was  relieved  in  1877  In'^  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  continued  to 
collect  specimens  until  1881.  His  work  was  more  extensive  than  that 
of  Turner,  but  was  carried  out  along  tlie  same  lines.  He  mado  several 
trips  up  and  do.vn  the  coast  from  St.  Michael,  and  also  worked  about 
the  Yukon  delta  and  up  the  river  as  far  as  Anvik.  L.  N.  McQucsten, 
who  conducted  a  trading  post  at  Fort  Reliance,  furnished  him  with 
numerous  specimens  and  much  valual)le  information.  The  results  of 
Nelson's  work  were  also  published  in  the  Arctic  Series  of  the  Signal 
Service  ^  and  form  ])y  far  the  most  valua])le  contribution  to  the  natural 
history-  of  Alaska  j'et  made.  In  1889  an  important  report  •'  was  pub- 
lished by  Dr.  George  M.  Dawson,  covering  the  region  of  the  .sources 
of  the  Yukon  and  down  as  far  as  Fort  Selkirk.  This  report  contains 
detailed  descriptions  of  the  ph3'sical  features  of  the  upper  river,  notes 
on  natural  history,  particularly  on  the  distribution  of  trees,  and  a  list 
of  plants  by  John  Macoun. 

NEW   Hl'ECIKS. 

Nine  new  species  and  sulwpecies  of  mannnals  are  described  in  the 
present  report.     They  arc  as  follows: 


Sriumpkrus  yukonennix. 
iSdurnii  hudsonicus  ])ctulaiw. 
Knlamiax  canicrps. 
Spermophihix  etiipdni  plesiut. 
Ncotoma  ndxavuim. 


Filur  upatulatHx. 
Lcpus  mlkiiJt. 
Lutreitia  oIkoh  iixjeii.'t. 
Mustela  amcricaitu  ncliionit. 


In  the  collection  of  ])irds,  three  new  forms  were  found.     These  have 
been  described  by  Dr.  Bishop*  as  follows: 


( 'aitachUcs  canadensis  osgoodi. 
Snyomis  saya  yukwioisis. 


Omlujiiis  richardsoni  natiirnlH.^. 


'Contributions  to  tlio  Niiturul  History  of  Alaska,  by  L.  M.  Turner,  Arctic  Series, 
Wgnal  Service,  Nt>.  II,  Wiwliiugtoii,  1880. 

'Report upon  Natural  IliHtory  Colleetions  uunle  in  Alaska,  by  E.  W.  Nelson,  Arctic 
Series,  Signal  Service,  No.  Ill,  Washington,  1S87. 

'Geological  and  Natural  History  Survoy  of  Cauadu,  Annual  lieport,  III  ( 1S,S7-8.S), 
Pt.  I,  «  B~'277  n,  1889. 

*  Auk,  XVII,  113-lUO,  April,  ItHK). 


i  l! 


m 


■ 


ii  i 


' 


20 


NORTH    AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


Beaidps  the,  iihovo,  sevoral  new  nminmals  which  come  within  tho' 
scope  of  the  present  report  ha\c  been  recently  described  by  Dr.  Mcr- 
riaui.'     These  are  as  follows: 


Leptts  americanus  dalli. 
Ijcpus  othua. 
Vulpes  hallensin. 
Sorex  personatUK  (irctiniK. 
Sorex  luiidrenM^. 


Spcrmophilus  onyoodi. 
Lemmm  ynkonensw. 
Ixmmus  alnscensis. 
Dicroxtony.v  nehoni. 
Erelhizon  (pixarUhm  rnijops. 

In  addition  to  these,  throe  new  forms  recently  described  by  Witmer 

Stone  ^  should  be  mentioned: 

Dicrostonyx  hudgonius  alnscemis  {vqualn  IK  mlsoni  Merriam). 

PuUifina  rlxoms  fnkimo. 

Lyn.c  caiuukiisw  moliipiloma. 

'  tproc.Wash.  Acad.  Rci.,  11,1:^-30,  March  14,1000. 

■'  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Pliila.,  March  24, 1900, 33-49. 


. 


MAMMALS  OF  THE  TTJEON  REGION. 


By  Wii.FUKi)  II.  OsciooT). 


INTRODUCTION. 


w 


,. 


.. 


Tho  following  list,  primarily  Imscd  on  collections  iniulc  during  the 
past  year,  includes  all  the  known  nianiinals  of  the  Yukon  region. 
Besides  tho  species  which  belong  strictly  to  the  Yukon,  are  included 
those  found  in  the  Lynn  Canal  and  White  Pass  districts  and  those 
known  to  occur  at  St.  Michael.  This  makes  a  list  containing  the  majority 
of  the  mammals  known  from  Alaska,  which  is  not,  however,  intended 
to  1)0  comprehensive,  but  should  be  considered  as  supplementary  to 
the  list  published  by  Nelson  in  1887.  As  may  bo  seen  from  the  itin- 
erary, our  collections  were  made  during  a  hasty  trip  from  tho  coast  of 
southeastern  Alaska  to  tho  head  waters  of  tho  Yukon  and  thence  down 
the  river  to  St.  Michael.  Good  series  of  all  the  common  small  mam- 
mals were  secured,  but  the  larger  and  rarer  species  were  not  often 
obtained.  It  was  not  only  difficult  to  secure  specimens  of  the  lax'ger 
nianunals,  ])ut  it  was  hard  to  gain  much  accurate  information  in  regard 
to  them.  MosI  of  tho  miners  we  met  had  boon  in  tho  country  but  a 
short  time  and  their  knowledge  of  animals  was  limited;  natives  wore 
seldom  met  on  the  upper  river  and  tho  few  that  were  interviewed 
seemed  disinclined  to  talk.  The  fur  trade  on  the  Yukon  has  dwindled 
to  comparatively  meager  proportions.  Tho  Indians  still  })ring  a  few 
furs  to  tho  traders  every  year  and  receive  pittances  of  flour  and  tea  in 
return;  but  tho  trade  is  apparently  voiy  small  and  were  it  not  for  the 
transportation  business  which  has  roc<Mitly  beconio  so  important,  the 
largo  companies  would  doul)tloss  find  it  difficult  to  maintain  ihomsolvos. 

In  identifying  the  recently  collected  specimens  and  studying  their 
geographical  distribution,  it  has  been  necessary  to  refer  constantly  to 
the  specimens  colloctiHl  l)y  Kennicott,  Dall,  Nelson,  and  Turner.  Many 
of  those,  which  are  in  tiio  National  Museum,  were  found  to  bo  in  poor 
condition  and  ro(iuired  consideraltio  renovating  to  make  (hem  compar- 
able with  modern  specimens.  For  tiie  free  use  of  those  si)ocimons  I 
an'  indebted  to  (Jerrit  S.  Miller,  jr.,  assistant  curator  of  manunals 
in  the  National  Museum.  1  am  also  ind(>l»tod  to  Outram  Hangs  for 
the  use  of  spocimons,  and  E.  W.  Nelson  for  nuich  valuable  informa- 
tion.    Tho  identifications  of  some  of  tho  manunals  have  boon  verified 

21 


Mi 


i  i\ 


22 


NORTH    AMEKICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


by  specialists  as  follows:  The  species  of  Sorex  by  Dr.  (1  Hart  Merriam; 
of  MicTotm  by  Vernon  Bailey,  and  of  Zapm  by  Edward  A.  Preble. 
All  measurements  are  in  millimeters. 


LIST  OF  SPECIES  AND  SXTBSPECIES. 


1.  Rangifer  montamM  Seton-Thomi)Hon. 

2.  Rangifer  arcdciis  (Rieharclson). 

3.  Rangi/i-r  tarandns  (Linna'us). 

4.  Alces  gigas  Miller. 

5.  Oi'is  dcdll  Nelson. 

6.  Ore(im)i(M  7Hon/«ntM  (Onl). 

7.  Seiuropterus  yuteit";»»M  sp.  nov. 

8.  Sciurux  /iit(feo})((iw  ErxlulKjn. 

9.  Sciurux hiulMriiiciig petulaunpnhn\>.  n<iv. 

10.  EiUamian  cimiceps  Hp.  uov. 

11.  Spermophilus   empetra  plesim   HabH|>. 

nov. 

12.  Spermophilus  Osgood  I  Merriam. 

13.  Arctomiis  raliguiiw  I'^Hclwcholtz. 

14.  Cmtor  niHadensis  Kuhl. 

15.  Mux  deatmanns  Pallaf . 

16.  PeromyscMs  orem  Bangs. 

17.  Pflromi/Hcus       maniculatus       arcticvx 

(Mearns). 

18.  Neotoma  suxamans  pp.  nov. 

19.  Evolomyg  dawsoni  Merriam. 

20.  Evotomyx  dawximi  alaxvenxix  (MilU'r). 

21.  3fi(ro/iM  Hion7((,c  (Merriam). 

22.  Mi<yrotusdrumiiwndi  ( i\.w\.i\i\{\  Hach. ). 

23.  MicTOtux  .vdvthognnOmx  (Leach). 

24.  Microtux  opirarlux  (Nelson). 

25.  Fihtr  xpatidaiux  up.  nov. 

26.  Si/naptomys  dalli  Merriam. 

27.  I^mmns  yukoncnsix  Merriam. 


28.  Lemmus  alascensis  Merriam. 

29.  Dicrostmiyx  iielscmi  Merriam. 

30.  Ztipus  Jauhonius  alascensis  Merriam. 

31.  Erethizan  epixanlhus  myopx  Merriam. 

32.  Oe//o/(macoZZ(jm  (Nelson) 

33.  Lepns  sidieiis  sp.  nov: 

.34.  Jjqms  americanus  dalli  Merriam. 

35.  Tji'pux  otiius  Merriam. 

I')().  Lyv.v  raiKideiixix  vwllipilosux  Stone. 

37.  Canix  orridciitalis  Eichardson. 

38.  f  Vtdpex  fidvHs  (Desmarent). 

39.  Vid)>ex  haUcnxis  Merriam. 

40.  Urxiix  iimcricainis  Pallas. 

41.  I'rxitx  liornliillx  :<lascemix  Merriam. 

42.  fjiitra  rdiKidnixix  (Schrelwr) . 

43.  Lntrenlii  rixon  ixgcna  su1)H]>.  nov. 

44.  PuUtrlus  arcticus  Merriam. 

45.  Pntoriux    ricognani    alascensix    (Mi^r- 

riam.) 

46.  J'ntorlns  riroxtts  eskimo  8ton( . 

47.  .}fiixtt'la  (imericana  i.rtiwxa  pi.lwp.  nov. 
4H.  .)fitxtil(i  pninanti  Erxleben. 

49.  Clulo  lusrux  (L'nnieiiH). 

50.  Sorer  pi'rxoiwtux  sireaturi  Merriam. 

51.  Sorex  jiersonalus  ardiriix  .Merriam. 

52.  Sori'.i:  ohscurus  Merriam. 

53.  Sn-f.i-  tandrcrmx  ^lerrium. 
.54.  Myotix  luci/ugnji  (Lt^  Conte). 


I~  I 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  SPECIES. 
Rangifer  montanns  Scton-Thompson.     Moiintuin  Oai-iltoii. 

Rangifer  monlaiiux  Seton-Tliompson,  Ottawa  Naturalint,  XIII,  No.  5,  i>,  Aiitr.  i  1. 1895); 
Allen,  Bull.  Am.  Mu.h.  Nat.  Hint.,  N.  Y.,  XIII,  1-18,  April  3,  1!WX). 

This  largo  woodland  caribou  is  reported  ii.s  ((iiite  coiniuoii  in  northern 
British  Columbia  altout  the  head  waters  of  the  Yukon  and  ''or  an 
indefinite  disttmce  nori:hward.  P  does  not  oceiir  on  the  coiust  south  of 
Cook  Inlet,  but  is  iM'portcd  from  many  jjoints  inuncdiately  beyond  the 
summit  of  the  coast  mountains.  It  prefers  tlie  higher  ground  in 
summer  and  is  not  foimd  idong  river  bottoms  like  the  moose,  for 
which  reason  few  are  killed  by  parties  descending  the  river.  Its  flesh 
is  smoked  and  dried  l>y  the,  Indians  for  winter  food,  and  when  so  ciiri^d 
is  preferi"ed  to  all  other  meat  of  the  coimtry.  Tluv  hides,  like  those 
of  the  moose,  .serve  the  natives  for  variosis  luticleM  of  (dothing  and  a"e 
utilized  especially  for  sheping  robes. 


I 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALB    OF   THE    YUKON    REOION, 


28 


Bangifer  arcticus  (K'chardson).     Barron  Ground  Caribou. 

Tho  barren  ground  cnribou  ranges  over  neai'ly  uU  of  extreme  north- 
ern North  America  from  northwestern  Labrador  to  tho  Aleutian 
Islands.  It  was  formerly  abunihint  over  this  great  territory,  but  is 
now  quite  rare.  Even  at  the  time  of  Nelson's  work  in  1877  it  had 
become  coi...psnf.tively  uncommon,  though  it  was  once  common  all 
about  Norton  Sound  and  for  some  distance  up  the  river.  The  south- 
ern and  interior  limits  of  its  range  are  uncertain.  During  our  stay 
in  St.  Michael,  I  .saw  half  a  dozen  skins  which  h-  been  secured 
near  Andraefski,  90  miles  al)ove  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon.  There  are 
specimens  in  tho  National  Museum  from  Nushaguk  and  Unalakleet, 
Alaska;  and  from  Rampart  House  antl  La  Piern^  llou.s«>,  Northwest 
Territory. 

Rangifer  tarandus  (Liima'us).     Domesticated  lieindeer. 

During  the  past  few  years,  as  is  well  known,  an  effort  has  been 
made  to  introduce  domesticated  reindeer  from  Siberia  into  Alaska. 
The  animals  as  a  rule  have  been  carefidly  herded,  but  in  a  few  cases 
they  have  had  opportunities  to  stray  away  and  run  wild.  The  herd 
that  had  perhaps  the  best  chance  to  stray  was  one  which  was  l)rought 
from  Lapland  to  Haines  in  1898,  and  driven  inland  over  the  Dalton 
trail.  A  short  time  after  it  started  several  of  the  animals  were  seen 
in  the  forest  near  Haines,  and  one  of  them  was  killed.  This  was  the 
only  instiince  of  the  kind  ])rought  to  my  attention.  l»ut  1  have  no 
dou))t  that  reindeer  have  occasionally  wandered  from  tho  care  of  the 
herders  at  other  times  and  in  other  places. 

Alces  gigas  Miller.     AlaskaMoo.se. 

Alv,i^(ji(jit«  Miller,  Proi'.  Biol.  Soc.  WiihIi.,  XIII,  .■)7-.")0,  :\riiy  20,  lSi)0. 

The  Alaska  moose,  as  has  frequently  been  stated,  is  the  largest  of 
the  door  family  in  North  America.  Its  distril)ution  along  the  Yukon 
extends  from  Lakes  Atlin  and  Tagish  at  least  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Taiiana  and  probaldy  somewhat  farther.  Whymper '  says  that  it  was 
'never  known  as  low  as  Nulato,'  even  in  tho  time  of  its  greatest 
abundance.  It  is  »>vident,  however,  from  the  record  of  Nelson  *  at  the 
Yukon  deltji,  and  that  of  Richard.son^  at  tho  mouth  of  tho  ]Vrackenzie, 
that  it  does  occasionally  leave  its  favorite  woodlands  of  the  interior 
and  w.mder  as  far  as  the  Arctic  coast.  At  present  it  is  still  quite 
numerous,  ]»ut  is  chieily  conlincd  to  the  small  streams  tributary  to  tho 
Yukon.  According  to  reports  which  came  to  me  it  is  al)undant  in  the 
region  al>out  the  upper  waters  of  the  Stewart,  Pelly,  and  Mac^Iillan 
rivers.     .Vlong  the  great  river  itscdf  luunbers  have  be(>n  killed  during 


'  TravelH  in  Alaska  ami  on  the  Yukon,  245,  1809. 

^  lieiMirt  upon  Natunil  IliHtory  Colk'ctiono  in  Alaska,  2H7,  1887. 

■'  Fauna  Horcali-Aniericana,  2:t.'!,  1829. 


.   \f 


1^ 


1 } 


■' '  Vl  I 


24 


NORTH    AMKKICAN    FATTNA. 


[NO.  19. 


the,  recent  influx  of  prospeetoi-s.  At  the  iH^ghming  of  the.  Klondike 
rush,  it  was  not  uncoinuion  for  ii  part^'  to  secure  one  or  two  moose 
whih^  descendiu};  the  river,  Itiit  such  is  rarely  the  case  iit  present. 
Our  part}'  failed  to  see  any,  though  we  spent  nearly  three  months  in 
the  region:  during  this  time  we  heard  of  but  two  animals  being 
killed,  one  near  the  foot  of  Lake  Lcbarge  and  another  on  upper 
Charlie  Creek,  a  short  distance  above  Circle;  both  were  secured  by 
Indians.     We  saw  <'omparativel\'  few  fresh  tracks. 

In  winter,  moose  meat  is  th(>  staple  diet  of  both  Indians  and  whites 
and  has  readily  sold  in  the  mining  camps  at  $1  to  !?2  per  p<mnd.  Such 
a  price,  even  in  this  country  of  high  wages,  has  l)een  a  great  incentive 
to  hunting,  and  many  a  miner  has  left  his  claim  to  pursue!  the  moose. 
The  hides  also  are  a  source  of  profit,  particularly  to  the  Indians,  who 
tan  them  and  make  them  into  mittens  and  moccasins.  What  the  Indians 
do  not  need  they  sell  readily  to  miners  iind  prospectors.  It  is  dif- 
ficult to  estimate  the  number  of  animals  that  have  been  kilhnl,  but  it 
must  be  very  large,  foi-  the  demand  has  l»een  steady  and  a  comparatively 
large  po))ulation  has  been  supplied  with  meat.  On  one  hunt,  an  ac- 
count of  which  has  been  given  by  Tappan  Adney,'  4-i  moose  were 
killed  in  about  one  month,  and  a  single  party  of  Indians  was  credited 
with  a  totid  of  80  moose  and  (!;")  caribou  in  t)ne  winter. 

Ovis  dalli  (Nelson).     Dall  Mountjiin  Sheep. 

Most  of  the  specinuMis  of  the  Dall  sheep  which  have  reached  our 
museiuns  were  secured  in  the  vicinity  of  Cook  Inlet,  but  the  animal 
occurs  in  nearly  all  the  high  mountains  of  Alaska,  and  in  the  north 
ranges  to  the  Arctic  coast.  Since  we  were  at  a  distance  fi-oui  the 
mountains  during  the  greater  part  of  our  trip,  1  was  unal)le  to  secure 
much  information  in  regard  to  the  distribution  of  the  species.  Sheep 
are  said  to  occur  about  the  AVest  Arm  of  Lake  Hennett,  and  Windy  Ai'm 
of  Lake  Tagish.  A  prospector  with  whom  I  talked  at  Lake  Tagish 
said  he  had  seen  and  kille(l  them  at  liotli  of  these  j)laces.  Lake  Mennett 
is  not  far  from  the  type  locality  of  <>.  simal,  and  it  is  ])()ssible  that 
this  species  occurs  there  with  O.  ditll't.  Both  white  aiul  gray  sheep 
are  reported,  though  all  are  said  to  be  white  in  winter.  1  was  told 
that  white  sheep  were  killed  some  years  ago  on  (In^  <'litt's  altout  Lake 
Lebarge,  l)ut  I  failed  to  (ind  signs  of  them  there.  l*rosj)cctors  at  Fort 
Selkii'k  say  that  sheep  are  always  to  be  found  in  the  mountains  along 
Pelly  liiver,  i)aiticularly  in  the  AiacMillan  Mountains"  near  the  mouth 

'HariK'i'H  .MiVir/.iiu'.(',4!tr)-:)()7,  MHrcli,  li)0(). 

'Tin-  f<lu't'i>  fniiii  tlu'  MacMilliiii  MouiitaiiiHaiv  wiid  tu  Ik?  (ho  'lilack  hIu^J),'  wliich 
nami!  oould  hardly  apj)!)-  to  0.  dttU'i,  l)uti.s  \\w.  namis  cuiinnoiily  frivoii  t<>  (K  Klinifi. 
If  Kloiwi  ivally  docw  (iccur  in  thi-Ho  innniifahiH  the  rccurd  is  a  very  iiittTCHtiiif;  uin',  and 
tho  locality  niufh  farther  north  than  any  from  which  thcHpccicH  hiiH  hoenprcviunwly 
recorded. 


#>     * 


T. 


>- 


i 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALH    OK   TIIK    YUKON    KKOION. 


25 


of   Mat'Milliin    River,  iiiid  thcv   wcro  also  reported   from  the    liead 
waters  of  the  Stewart  and  from  tlu;  Taiiaiia  Hills. 


#> 


^         !        U 


Oreamnos  montanus  (Ord).     Mouiituiii  (loat. 

Goats  occur  on  th(^  hiffli  j^ranite  cliffs  which  incloi^o  the  upper  part 
of  LyiHi  Canal;  they  are  also  conuiion  on  the  mountiiins  near  White 
]*ass  and  ahout  tin-  rocky  walls  of  Lake  Hennett.  1  \va.s  told  that  they 
had  l>een  killed  recently  at  the  upper  (M)d  of  Little,  Windy  Arm  on 
Lake  Tajjish,  hut  ]  could  obtain  no  reliable,  report  of  their  occurrence 
in  tiie  interior  beyond  tliis  i)oint.  At  Lake  Le])arge  they  were  very 
doubtfully  reported.  Their  ranjre  is  known  to  extend  north  to  White 
Pass  ill  the  coast  niouiitiiins  at  U-ast  to  C-opper  River,'  Itut  does  not 
reach  far  into  the  interior.  Hunters  from  the  mountains  al)out  the 
upi)er  waters  of  the  I'elly  and  Stewart  rivers  asserted  positively  that 
none  had  been  heard  of  in  that  i'e<(ion. 

The  station  agent  at  (ilacier.  near  White  Pa.ss  summit,  told  me  tiiat 
goats  frequently  appear  on  the  clitl's  within  ea,sy  view  of  his  hou.se. 
I le  also  .showed  me  the  hide  of  one  tiiat  had  been  killed  near  there 
a  .short  tune  before  our  arrival.  I  made  one  .short  trij)  into  these 
mountains,  but  fail(^d  to  .see  any  goats.  The  character  of  the  cliffs 
is  ideal  for  them,  Imt  they  had  evich'iitly  gone  farther  l)ack  to  their 
sununer  feeding  grounds,  as  the  abundant  tracks  and  dung  were 
a  few  weeks  old. 

Sciuropterus  yukonensis  sp.  nov.     Yukon  Flying  S(|uin"el. 

7'(//)i'  t'ruiii  Ciiniii  Diiviil-Dti,  Yuk<iii  Ivivrr,  near  .\la.<kii-(  'iiiiada  hiHiiidurv.     No.  ''■v!!5§i 
I'.S.  Xat.  MiiH.     ('olle<-to<l  DciviiiIht  S,  1S!HI,  hy  K.  K.  CarfJoii. 

ChartieterK. — Size  largest  of  North  American  Hying  stjuirnds;  tail 
exceedingly  long;  color  rather  dark,  imderparts  suffu.sed  with  fulvous; 
skidl  slightly  cliara<'teri/,ed. 

Ciiliir. — Top  of  head,  neck,  and  upperparts  to  l)ase  of  tiiil  pale  cin- 
namon or  between  the  wo(kI  brown  and  ciiuiamon  of  liidgwaj';  under- 
fui'  ))luish  black,  partially  expo.sed  on  legs  and  meml)ranes;  underpart.^ 
dull  whiti.sh,  irreguhirly  suffu.sed  with  cinnamon  fawn;  feet  dusky 
above,  lightly  edged  with  ci-eamy  wliite,  luitl'y  white  below;  cheeks 
and  sides  of  head  asliy.  lightly  mixed  with  ciiuiamon;  end  of  no.se 
.slightly  paler  than  to})  of  head,  not  light  asliy  as  in  S.  ndhnnux;  black 
eye-ring  prominent;  tail  light  fawn  below,  with  a  light  edging  of 
dusky,  Itecoming  liroader  toward  tip;  tail  above  fawn  heavily  mixed 
with  Itlack,  which  predominates  for  terminal  fifth. 

Skull.  Size  large,  slightly  larger  than  in  S.  (dpiniin;  audital 
bulla'  larger;  width  at  po.storbital  constrictio.i  greater;  molars  heavier, 
parti«'ularly  th(>  mandibular  series. 

» II.  T.  Allen,  Strieiicf,  Vll,  67,  188«. 


i'   i 

if* 

J 


fl 


26 


NORTH    AMKBICAN   F  ATTN  A. 


[NO.  19. 


\  :;i 


3ft'Uiiuremetit^.— Total  length  SOS;  tiiil  180;  hind  foot  (niciisurcd 
dry)  41.  Skull:  Occipitonasul  longth  -iO;  zygomatic  lu'cadth  25; 
postorbital  constriction  10. 

liemarhi.— Thin  .species  is  distinguished  from  l)oth  /S.  sahn'niM  nnd 
S.  aJjnrma  by  its  large  size  and  very  long  tail,  but  it  is  also  very  dif- 
ferent from  cither  in  color.  It  is  evidently  a  very  rare  .squirrel,  as 
the  type  and  one  topotype  are  the  only  specimens  known.  A  .speci- 
men from  Chilkoot  Inlet  which  may  possibly  bo  this  species  has  been 
recordef^  by  Dr.  George  M.  Dawson.'  Camp  Davidson  is  the  north- 
ernmost point  at  which  the  genus  ScturopttTus  is  known  to  occur.  The 
type  and  one  other  .specimen  were  secured  by  It.  E.  Carson,  who  was 
a  member  of  the  ])oundary  survey  party  of  the  V.  S.  Coast  and  Geo- 
detic Survey  under  J.  E.  McGrath,  in  IS'.K).  Dr.  VV.  W.  Kingsl)ury, 
also  a  member  of  the  partj',  writes  me  as  follows  in  regard  to  these 
specimens: 

I  send  you  the  following  notow  taken  from  my  journal  rciganling  two  Flying  Squir- 
rels which  were  captured  by  a  nu!ndx?r  of  our  party  while  in  Alaska,  in  ISOO;  their 
skin.><  were  sent  to  the  National  ^Mu.Heuui  at  Wiujliington. 

The  female  was  (>aught  Dec.  8th,  I8<M),  and  the  male  Dec.  9th,  1800.  Both  sfjuirrels 
were  cnught  iu  a  trap  known  sw  the  'dead  fall,'  which  wius  set  by  K.  K.  Carson  for 
marten.  The  traps  were  set  in  the  be<l  of  a  frozen  stream,  where  it  nui  through 
a  clump  of  spruce  tr<>es  alxiut  one-fourth  of  a  mile  l)ack  fron\  the  Yukon  river. 
This  clump  of  trees  i.s  about  2J  miles  east  of  the  International  Ijoundary  line,  and 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Yukon  river. 

We  showed  these  skins  to  Ixith  McQuesten  and  Mayo,  two  traders  wlio  liad  Iwen 
in  that  country  over  twenty  years,  and  who  .said  that  they  liad  seen  Flying  Scpiirrels 
along  the  Yukon  river  quite  a  nundxT  of  times  before,  and  liad  also  seen  them  at 
Ft.  Reliance  and  Ft.  Yukon;  but  had  not  sei-n  any  of  them  for  a  nimdKTof  years 
before  this  date.  We  also  showed  the  skins  to  an  Indian,  who  said  these  scjuirrcis 
would  attack  a  man  by  flying  in  his  face,  and  the  Indians  woul<l  not  eat  them 
l)ecause  the  stjuirrels  ate  dirt. 

During  the  winter  and  si)ring  of  that  year,  I  hunted  very  carefully  in  tlie  vicinity 
where^hese  s<inirrels  were  captured,  but  failed  t"  fmd  further  tnice  of  tlieni.  The 
stomachs  of  Ixttli  of  these  .squirrels  were  empty  The  traps  in  whicli  they  were 
caught  were  set  for  martens,  and  two  or  three  liad  l)een  caught,  but  none  were  caught 
in  these  traps  after  the  s<iuirrel8  were  caj)turetl. 

ScinruB  hadsonicus  Erxleben.     Hudson  Bay  Red  Squiri'el. 

All  the  red  .squirrels  from  the  Yukon  l)asin  and  northern  .Vlaska,  as 
far  as  can  be  determined  at  present,  are  referable  to  Scliirua  lnuhoitt- 
cua  'proper,'  although  those  from  the  Upper  Yukon  show  considerable 
tendency  toward  S.  h.  drmtorl.  Most  of  th(5  Yukon  specimens  are 
in  summer  pelage,  while  the  few  availa))le  specimens  from  eastern 
Canada  and  the  vicinity  of  Hud.son  Bay  are  in  winter  pelage,  so  that 
close  comparison  is  not  possible.  Specimens  from  various  points 
along  the  Yukon  from  Bennett  to  Nulato  have  been  examined.     The 


»  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Survey  of  Canada,  Annual  Report,  III  (1887-88),  pt.  1, 60  A, 
1880. 


IM 


[V0.19. 


North  Aniaur.an  Faur.-i,  No,   1  j. 


Plate  IV. 


i  < 

#^V':S 

y. 

1         '■'J  'A 

\ 

•*' 

'  « 

'   '     \- 

'un 

.-^T^^m\ 

n 

ri 

-m 

/'                  - 

RiK» 'J 

't^ 

vH 

'l-          ■• 

.« 

t 

1? 

^ 

ft  *. . 

?^     >r..;i:: 

/^ 

JsV'H 

i4    t 

f'^ 

[    '■*  , 

■;••■'      Hi 

■.  ■.  [  ^i'-  ■ 

^ 

^V^^ 

#7■"/^^■'i 

% 

WK 

■  ^  ••  t ' 

■it 

'  'k  ^ 

■   .  ^- 

'i 

i" 

\[..^:-^)^ 

1 

>'Si 

# 

-  '■  •    1* 

J-Biftl: 

&<^ 

Fig.  1.— Nests  of  Red  Squirrels  in  Spruce  Thicket. 


Fig.  2.— Burrows  made  by  Red  Squirrels  in  loose  Scales  stripped 
FROM  Spruce  Cones. 


5    Ml 
'    '■    fli 


'■    It, 


orT.,lflno.] 


MAMMALS    OF   THE    YUKON    REOT(»N. 


27 


»    ■  * 


1        t 


iiiiimiil  is  oxccodiiifjly  ahuiulaiit  in  all  tlu>,  Hpriico  fonvst,  and  d()ul>tlo8M 
ranges  northward  to  the  limit  of  trocs. 

Evidenti's  of  its  activity  arc  to  })o  found  all  thri)Uf,'h  the  spruoo 
forest.  Its  {^lohulai*  nests  of  grass,  moss,  l)ark,  and  icfiise  are  com- 
mf)n  (Plate  IV,  Hg.  1),  and  are  usually  situated  near  the  trunk  of  some 
slender  spru('(>,  10  or  20  feet  from  the  ground.  Sometimes  several 
will  Ik!  found  in  the  sam  tree,  and  a  half  dozen  or  more  are  very 
often  to  be  seen  at  the  same  time  Little  excavations  in  the  mos.s 
show  where  the  chickarees  have?  been. digging  for  roots;  and  spruce 
cones  tucked  away  in  these  and  otluM'  out-of-tluvway  places  are  fur- 
ther tn'idence  oi  their  sagacity.  The  ground  is  often  strewn  for  some 
distance  with  the  scales  of  spruce  cones  which  they  have  stripped 
(Plat(^  IV.  fig.  2).  Near  Lid<e  Marsh  I  found  one  such  place  20  feet 
S(iuare  which  wa.s  covered  ($  inches  deep  with  scales. 

Sciurus  hudsonicus  petulans  subsp.  nov. 

7V/«  from  (ilacitT,  White  I'a.«H,  Alaska  (altitudo  1,H70  fwt).  No.  97457,  IT.  S.  Nat. 
Mils.,  I'.iolot'ical  Siirvoy  Collection,  ?  a.l.  Collected  .hiiw  4,  1899,  i)j  "".V.  H. 
()«Kof><l.     Orijjimil  No.,  370. 

('hdi'dctii'K. — Similar  to  S.  hiKhontcux^  >)ut  larger  and  darker;  central 
portion  of  tiiil  darker  and  with  slight  mi.xture  of  black;  submarginal 
l)lack  in  tiiil  wider;  edging  of  tail  much  darker;  underparts  not  pure 
white  in  sunmier.  Similar  to  Sciuru«  h.  streatorl^  but  more  reddish; 
central  portion  of  tail  with  much  less  admixture  of  l)lack;  sul)terminal 
black  in  tail  mu«'h  narrower.  Somewhat  similar  to  >'.  i'<iiicoin'ci'e7isii<^ 
l)ut  paler  and  cranially  ditt'erent;  laterid  stripe  much  more  prominent; 
siiltmarginal  and  subterminal  black  in  tail  narrower;  median  dorsal 
stripe  less  suffused;  m<Hlian  dorsal  hairs  of  tiiil  with  much  less  black. 

Color. — Sunrmcf  jtcUuic:  Tpperparts  between  the  raw  um1)er  and 
Prout's  brown  of  Ridgway;  top  of  head  slightly  darker  than  back; 
lateral  line  prominent,  intense  black;  forelegs  and  feet  russet;  xmder- 
parts  lightly  washed  with  fulvous;  median  dorsal  portioi>  of  tuil  hazel, 
slightly  mixed  with  black-t'pped  hairs;  submarginal  and  subterminal 
black  in  tail  rather  limited;  euging  of  tail  ochraceous;  luider  surface 
of  tail  paU'r  than  upper,  the  grayish  roots  of  the  hairs  showing  through. 
Wintrt'  jiihuj,';  Similar  to  the  coiresponding  pelage  of  A'.  Andsoiiicws, 
but  considerably  darker;  median  dorsal  line  more  diffuse;  tail  darker 
and  with  gretitcr  admixture  of  black  in  central  portion. 

S^'ifll. — Similiir  to  that  of  hmUonlcas  and  its  other  subspecies;  nasals 
longer  and  posteriorly  more  compressed  than  in  S.  vonconmTcnKix; 
orbital  arch  with  a  sharp  indentation  between  lachrymal  and  postorbital 
process.     (See  Plate  V,  tig.  2.*) 

j)/'i'a,'<iin>iiic/itii. — Average  of  two  specimens  from  type  locality: 
Total  length  :^03;  tail  120;  hind  foot  50. 


i     I 


1. 1 


I     ■ 


'Topotype  N'o.  97460,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.     Compare  with  (ifr.  1,  ■'>.  roncouvfreims,  No. 
71889,  U.  8.  Nut.  Mus,,  from  (ioldstreain,  Vancouver  Island. 


n 


28 


NORTH    AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


hi  1    * 


It  i" 


Hem  irh'i.—Tho,  closest  relationship  of  this  red  squirrel  is  (evidently 
with  /ni(lfio/i/'eu«  of  northern  Alaska.'  A  sinjfle  specimen  from  Ya- 
kutat  Bay  shows  a  decided  tendency  toward  the  northern  form,  a!>d 
those  from  Cook  Inlet  are  clearly  referable  to  it.  A  more  or  less  im- 
perfect specimen  from  Inverness,  British  Columbia,  indicates  a  possi- 
ble intergradation  with  Sr/'i/rnJi  li.  Htrea ori.  Thei-e  is  ample  material 
deir^onstratinj^  by  skulls  as  well  as  by  color  that  it  has  no  very  close 
relationship  to  S.  raneouvet^eitsis.  My  specimens  of  pei/ulaiw  taken 
early  in  Jime  are  in  new  sunnnpr  pelage  or  in  old  winter  pelage  just 
previous  to  oi-  in  process  of  change.  The  latter  dou))tless  does  not 
fairly  repi'esent  the  Avinter  pelage;  but  in  making  comparison  with 
eastern  specimens,  1  have  chosen  those  in  a  similar  condition. 

Al)out  Lyim  Canal  ruid  on  the  southwest  side  of  White  Pass  I 
found  these  red  squirrds  almndant.  Several  at  (Jiacier  had  become 
quite  tame,  and  cai>  d  '.-very  day  to  the  cabin  of  one  of  the  I'ailroad 
hands  to  be  fed.  They  have  all  the  vivacious  energy,  curiosity,  and 
vocal  accomplishi'.ients  of  their  pjasteni  cousins,  and  fully  maintiiin 
their  reputation  f  yr  roUi'-king  good  natun'  and  fearlessness. 

Eutamias  caniceps  sp.  nov.     Gray-headed  C'hipnmnk. 

l)l}if  frcin  I^ke  Txiljiirge  Northwest  Territory,  Canada.  No.  !»!t2(X1,  V.  S.  Nat. 
MuH.,  Biological  Survey  (\>lleetion,  9  ad.  Collectinl  ,Tuly  13,  IHOit,  by  \V.  II. 
OHgood.     Original  No.,()0.'{. 

('harKctcvK. — Simil.a'  to  E.  Ixmalis,  but  grayer.  ])»rticularly  the  head, 
tail,  and  feet;  postauricular  spots  more  prominent;  undcrparts  pure 
white. 

Coh/r.—Siotunei'  or  jxiufhi'ddliKj  jxhuji-:  Sides  l»right  ochraceous, 
extending  from  Hanks  forward  and  stopping  immediately  Itelow  ears, 
but  interrupted  at  shoulders  \i\  tiie  extension  of  gray  froiu  arm;  five 
black  stripes  )n  Itack  very  distint-t  and,  except  outer  ones,  entirely 
unmixed  with  ochraceous;  outer  pair  of  light  strijies  pure  wiiite, 
prominent,  not  continuous  with  postauricidar  spots;  inner  light  stripes 
bluish  white  mixed  Avith  ochraceou.N;  top  of  head  l)rownisli  gray; 
postauricular  spots  l)luisli  white,  connected  with  throat  l)y  a  continuous 
light  stripe  running  below  ear;  light  stripes  on  sides  of  liead  promi- 
.,ent,  almost  pure  white;  dark  stripes  rufous  mixed  witli  l)lackish, 
narrower  and  darker  than  in  K.  luiiwulh;  undeiparts  pur  >  white;  feet 
yellowish  white.  Worn  jxJtHji':  (ienenil  etfect  of  upptrjjarts  olive 
gray  relieved  iiy  thi^  black  and  white  stripes  of  the  buck  and  faint 
traces  of  the  fulvous,  wiiicli  has  been  worn  away;  feet  gray isli  white; 
tail  above  l)lack,  grizzled  and  overlaid  with  white,  l)elow  clay  color 
submargined  by  black  and  margined  by  wliite. 


'The  limlmuiniK  of  noriI:"rn  .Maxkn  i.'  1:.  re  eoiL^idered  tlu^  naiiie  an  tliat  from 
eastern  Canada,  1ml  will  <loiihtii .  "  |/ro\(.  sepanilth-  when  an  ahundanee  of  niati  rial 
iu  all  iK'lugcH  M  availublo. 


■*         ♦ 


19. 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMM/LS    OK    THK    YUKON    RE(»ION. 


' 


Skull. — Similiir  t<)thii>:  of  K  Ixu'edlis,  ])iit  with  a  sliji^htlv  fuller  briiln- 
cttsciiiul  largtM"  aiiditul  bulhc. 

Mc(WurenK;)itti. — -Typc^  (from  dry  skin):  Total  l(>ii<jth  223;  tail  verte- 
bra} 103;  hind  foot  32. 

Remarla.—ThG  type '  of  E.  hn'euUa  from  Ft)rt  liiard,  British  Colum- 
bia, is  missing,  but  specimens  from  Foit  Simpson,  which  is  not  far 
from  Fort  Liard,  and  other  points  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  are 
available  for  comparison.  These  are  all  much  suifused  with  fulvous, 
an<l  are  very  easily  d'stinguished  from  tho>;e  of  the  Upper  Yukon. 
E.  mnicejjH  is  characterized  not  only  l»y  gray  head  and  cheeks,  but  by 
gray  feet,  gray  edging  to  tail,  and  pure  white  underparts. 

This  species  is  found  from  tlu;  headwaters  of  the  Yukon  about  Lake 
Lindeman  to  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Selkirk,  Avhere  it  was  last  seen  by 
our  party.  I  foiuid  it  most  common  in  the  di'v  and  open  lockj' 
country  about  Lake  Bennett  and  Laki^  Lebaige.  and  a  few  wei'c  taken 
in  the  tlii.-ketijof  LcjHii'ijijrd'it  al»outLake  ?,Iitvsii  and  Fifty-Mile  llivcr. 
It  is  no';  aliundant  anvwherc  in  the  region.  l)ut  is  remarkably  tame 
and  unsuspicious.  T  seldom  saw  more  tlian  two  oi'  three  in  a  half 
day's  tramp,  but  these  would  often  fri-k  .ibout  within  a  few  feet  of 
me  as  if  entirely  oblivious  of  my  presence. 

Spermophilus  empetra  plesius  subsp.  nov.     rx-nnett  (Jroimd  Siiuirrel. 

TijiH-  from  lU'iiiictt  City,  ''ojul  nf  Lako  ]5oiiiK'tt,  liritinli  Coluiulmi.  No.  ilKilMl,  V.  «. 
Nut.  yXw.y  Biological  Survey  ('olh'ction,  J  ml.  Collected  June  li).  IHVitt,  by 
W.  II.  Ospjoil.     '^)ri);iiial  Xo.,4<)."). 

Cio!r'>''f,i'n. — Similar  to  X.  iinjulro  and  S.  l-it(l!((cniKl.-i.,  but  smaller; 
general  color  less  fulvous;  under  side  of  tail  always  clear  bright  cimia- 
mon  rufous;  molar  tet'th  relatively  much  larger  tlian  in  kadUicennU,' 
skull  small  and  light  if.vl  otherwise  slightly  peculiar. 

CdIov. — Podhv  KiiiKj  2><lii<J<  •'  Above,  mottled  as  in  S.  einjxiffti,  but 
general  colorless  fulvous;  upi)erparts,  mi.xcd  black,  white  and  yellow- 
ish gray  » xtending  forward  to  toji  of  head,  l)eeoming  narrower  and 
slightly  grayer  between  shouhh'rs;  top  of  head  chestnut  mixed  with 
black;  nose  and  forehead  clear  lia/cl;  uiuh'r  side  of  body  cimiamon 
rufous  paling  to  nearly  white  around  chin  and  extending  to  sides  of 
l)ody,  neck  and  clieeks,  and  both  sides  of  legs;  under  side  of  tail  somc- 
whatdeeper  cinnaiiKit  rufous  marguicd  by  yellowish  white;  su)»terminal 
black  in  tail  less  (>.\tcnsive  than  in  i  nipi^nt  i\.\\i\  kudidcmKin;  ni;Hlian 
part  of  ui)per  side  of  tail  grizzled  l»lack  and  yellowish,  narrow  sub- 
margin  and  sul»terminal  zone  black,  the  whol(>  edged  and  overlaid  with 
3'ellowi><h  white.  The  hairs  of  the  back  in  iS.  yV'.s//^vare  of  two  kinds, 
some  l)eing  of  several  coK>rs  arranged  in  zones  and  some  puie  black 
for  their  entire  length.  The  foinier,  which  are  most  abundant,  arc 
dark    i>oty  plumbi'ous  at  th(>  I)ase  followed  liy  a  zone  of  light  gniy, 


il 


1 


'  Sco  Allen,  liull.  Am.  Mui-.  Nal.  IUhI.,  N.  Y.,  Ill,  lOU,  181)0. 


uilfl'«/.' 


30 


NORTH    AMKRUIAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


H 


then  one  of  l)l!'.ck,  tlu'ii  yollovvish  whitv,  aiid  liinilly  :i  bliirk  tip.  In 
S.  c/njh'/rd,  ihv  iin'unjfcnu'nt  is  jniu'tically  tiif  sanio,  but  the  upper 
part  of  the  iig'it  j^riiy  zone  blends  into  fulvous.  .V.s  this  is  the  widest 
zone,  it  gives  a  fulvous  suffusion  to  the  entire  ui)perparts  of  the  ani- 
mal. In ple»t' 11^  the  l)laek  subniargin  of  tlie  tail  never  shows  through 
on  the  under  side.  II  wv;  Kj>r//i</  jhhu/c:  Upperparts  yellowish  gray; 
top  of  head,  forehead,  and  nose  cinnamon  rufous;  thighs  with  fai»it 
suggestions  of  rufous;  shoulders  and  neck  hoary;  sides  and  ui  Hoi 
parts  grayish  white  washed  with  yellowish  and  flecked  with  ocl' 
ous;  feet  pale  buify  ochraceous;  t^iil  paler  than  in  postbreeding  pelage. 

Skull. — Siniilar  to  that  of  S.  empetrn  f  I'oni  llnalaska,  but  smaller 
and  lighter;  nasals  shoi-ter  and  wider  in  proportion  to  their  length; 
postpalatal  notch  ext<>nding  farther  forward,  1)eing  almost  on  a 
plane  with  the  last  molar;  molar  teeth  decidedly  larger  than  those  of 
Itadiucensh. 

M&lKitroiientx. — Type  (from  dry  skin):  Totjil  length  845;  tail  \'erte- 
braj  1>3;  hind  foot  5(>.  Skull  of  type:  Basal  length  45;  zygomatic 
breadth  35"  postor])ital  constriction  13;  length  of  nasals  18;  least 
width  of  nasals  (5;  alveolar  length  of  molar  series  13. 

jRenuirkn. — The  material  representing  S2>ernioj)hllui<  t'lnjhirn  is  still 
very  scanty  and  imperfect.  Specimens  from  the  Arctic  coast  an;  few 
in  number  and  poor  in  ((ualit}',  while  from  Hudson  Ba}^  on(^.  flat  skin, 
unaccompanied  1)\'  a  skull,  is  all  I  am  able  to  tind.  I  have  considered 
this  (No.  13!t32,  II.S.N.M.)  to  be  typical  of  ctuin'trit  and  have  us;»d 
it  in  making  skin  comparisons.  Since  it  agrees  fairly  well  with  speci- 
mens of  the  ground  squirrel  whii-h  has  been  introduced  on  llnalaska,  I 
have  used  the  skulls  of  these  for  skull  comparisons.  Specimens  from 
Bristol  Bay  and  the  Alaska  peninsula  are  apparently  intermediate 
between  rinjittrd  and  j>/cxiu^.  S.  hKHacinxix  is  apparently  coiilincd  to 
Kadiak  Island,  as  specimens  from  the  mainland  iunnediately  opposite 
the  island  are  cranially  and  dentally  distinct.  The  southern  members 
of  the  group,  fvy/*//;^7>/V/y/*/.s' and  </'j/f/t /■oi// iit  •n.s,  iiho  need  not  be  con- 
sidered, as  they  arc  \'cry  difl'ercnt  from  < inpitra  iiudj^h-xfiix. 

/S.  plesim  was  flrst  met  with  on  tlie  south  side  of  White  Tass  near 
Glacier,  where  a  small  colony  was  found  on  a  steep  rocky  slojjc  abovo 
the  canyon.  They  were  activt;  here  in  early  June  while  patches  of 
snow  still  lay  on  the  ground.  On  the  sununit.ol' Wh<t(^  I'iiss  another 
small  colony  was  found,  and  at  Lake  Benncit  th< "'  >vor(^  \  ciy  nbundant. 
Here  their  ])urrows  are  t(/  be  found  wherever  the  coiif'^r  .lii  ion  of  the 
rocks  affords  lodgment  of  suflicicnt  soil.  From  Bennett  on  to  Fort 
Selkirk  they  are  exceedingly  abundant.  We  saw  them  daily  about  all 
th«'  lakes,  and  as  we  floated  down  Fifty-Mile  and  Thirty -^lile  livers, 
we  «)ften  saw  them  bobbing  in  and  <nit  of  their  burrows  or  scurrying 
along  their  little  trails  whi<'h  score  the  banks. 

From  suni'isc  till  late  in  the  afternoon,  their  sharp  clicking  erica 


In 


(HT.,19U0.i 


MAMMALS    OV    THK    YUKON    KKUION. 


rang  out  !UT08.s  the  water,  isu  tluit,  it"  nt)t  to  Itc  scon,  th»!y  at  least 
reminded  iis  of  their  presence  nearly  all  tlui  time.  When  alarmed, 
they  stand  erect  on  their  haunches  near  their  Imrrows  and  violently 
utter  their  sharp,  high-pitched  cUckrty  c/ick  as  long  as  the  exciting 
cause  is  in  sight,  alwa\'s  emphasizing  each  cry  bj'  vigorously  slapping 
their  shoi't  tails  against  the  gron'ul  hnViind  them.  As  a  rule  they  were 
quite  wary,  and  it  was  not  possil)le  to  get  within  gunshot  without  .some 
cone  alment  and  careful  stalking.  The  limit  of  tlui  range  of  the  spe- 
cies along  the  river  is  near  Fort  Selkirk.  The;  last  specim(>n  .secured 
was  caught  near  Rink  Rapids,  1»ut  I  learned  that  (juite  a  coh)ny  of 
ground  s(piirrels  exists  on  the  west  })ank  of  the  river  just  below  Fort 
Selkirk. 

Spermophilns  osgoodi  Merriam.     Fort  Yukon  (Iround  Scjuii-rel. 
tSjD'niiojth'.lrix  (iMjiiwIi 'M.i'rria.w,  Troc.  Wunh.  Acail.  Sci.,  II,  IS,  March  14,  19(X). 

From  Fort  Selkirk,  near  the  limit  of  Sj>,'riiif>j>/iifii.'<j  A'.sv'«.s  in  the  inte- 
rior, nearly  to  Circle,  we  saw  no  signs  of  ground  s([uirrels  of  any  kind. 
Just  before  reaching  Circle,  however,  we  began  to  sec  unmistakal)lo 
signs  of  them  and  were  soon  attracted  to  a  small  colony  by  their  click- 
ing calls  which  reached  our  ears  as  we  iioated  down  in  midstream. 
The  call  is  executed  in  about  the  same  time  as  that  of  A'.  plc.sJi(f<^  but 
its  pitch  i.;  nmcli  lower  and  its  effect  on  the  ear  is  utterly  different. 
It  suggests  the  click  of  castanets.  On  going  ashore  we  found  their 
burrows  and  connecting  paths  scattered  oviT  (luite  an  area  on  tlie  hill- 
side. The  coh)ny  occupied  the  open  hillside  and  a  few  ledges  of  loose 
ock,  and  even  extended  down  into  a  thicket  of  alder  and  willow  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  animals  were  v 'ry  shy  and  ))ecame  nuu-h 
excited  at  our  approach.  Their  long  tai  s  Avere  very  noticeable  in 
marked  contrast  to  the  short  ones  of  A'.  j>/W«,v,  which  wo  had  been 
•iftomed  to  seeing.  Fifteen  spccimei  s  Avere  secured.'  At  this 
ti'  •'  'Vug.  14)  they  were  all  very  fat  and  in  splendid  postbreeding 
pelage;  the  entin^  underi)arts  were  rich  ferruginous  without  a  trace  of 
any  other  'olor;  tlu*,  batk  was  \-ery  dark,  and  the,  long  tail  was  full 
and  bushy.  One  spechuen  was  pure  glossy  black  with  faint  shadowy 
indications  of  vcrmi<'»dation  on  tlu^  back.  Among  the  specimens  in 
the  National  Museum  from  Fort  Yukon  are  several  in  this  melanistie 
condition,  showing  that  it  is  not  unconnnon.  The  lange  of  this  spe- 
ci(>s  on  the  Yukon  begins  about  20  miles  alK)ve  Circle  and  extends  at 
least  to  Fort  Yukon  and  probably  to  the  moutli  of  the  Tanana. 


li 


i-   \ 


Arctomys  caligatus  Fschscholt/.     i lumy  Marmot. 

Six  specimens  of  the  hoary  lUarmot  were  ^ecured  in  the  White  Pnm 
region  and  about  Lake  Bennett,  where  it  was  v>oinnion.     It  is  conffned 

'  Tliin  viilimlilt'  ncrii-s  wmh  mil'di'tnimtclv  I'cstnivcil. 


32 


NORTH   AMERICAN    F^UNA. 


fNo.  ID. 


?      I 


i'  I 


to  rocky,  mountainous  parts  of  thi^  Hiulsoniaii  zon«,  and  consciiuent'y 
we  did  not  meet  with  it  during  the  latter  part  of  our  trip,  and  onlj' 
heard  of  it  through  reports  from  the  mountains  at  tlic  hcadwutiM-s  of 
the  White  and  Tanana  rivers.  As  elsewhere,  it  is  familiarly  known 
as  the  'whi  Kr.' although  occasionally  rather  inappropriately  called 
'ground  hoj,.'  long  drawn  whistle  is  peculiarly  moiirriful,  par- 

ticularly when  oaks  the  deathly  silence  of  some  rocky  canyon.  It 
loves  to  stretch  ai  full  length  on  top  of  a  large  rock  and  bask  in  the 
sun.     I  frequently  found  it  quietly  enjoying  itself  in  this  manner. 

Castor  canadensis  Kuhl.     American  Beaver. 

It  hardly  seems  possible  that  half  a  million  or  more  beaver  skim; 
have  been  secured  in  the  Territory  of  Ala.><ka.  The  animal  is  now 
almost  as  rare  there  as  it  is  in  the,  Unit<>d  States,  the  inevitable  result 
of  continued  pursuit  by  both  whites  and  natives,  which  has  so  many 
parallels  that  it  is  useless  to  emphasize  it  here.  At  Fort  Selkirk  I 
saw  several  ))eaver  skins  tJiken  on  a  small  trilmtary  of  Stewart  River, 
and  at  St.  Michael  1  found  a  very  few  in  tlu^  warehouses  of  the  trad- 
ing companies.     Beyond  this  I  saw  or  heard  nothing  of  them. 

Mus  decumanus  Pallas.     Norway  Rat. 

Large  rats  are  exceedingly  abundant  at  St.  Michael.  Tluur  intro- 
duction nuist  have  been  effected  very  recciitly,  as  they  wei'c  unknown 
there  at  the  time  of  Nelson's  work.  ITnalaska  has  long  been  their 
northern  limit  on  the  Pacitic  cotist.  They  find  shelter  about  the 
wharves  and  lumber  piles  at  St.  Michael  and  also  infest  the  ])uildings, 
particularly  f(HKl  warehouses.  Their  distribution  will  undoubtedly 
soon  ))e  extended  all  along  the  Yukon  by  means  of  the  many  steamers 
now  plying  between  St.  Michael  and  Dawson. 

feromyscus  oreas  Bangs.     Bangs  White-footed  Mouse. 

Per    /!//.>((•»)•  oivd.H  Hiin>;s,  I'roc.  Hio'.  Soc.  \Va«li.,  XII,  H4,  Murcli  LM,  ISilS. 

Long-tailed  mice  were  Uikvu  at  Skagway,  Glacier,  Sununit,  Bennett, 
Caribou  Crossing,  Fifty-Mile  Uivei-,  and  Riidi  Rapids.  In  general 
they  seemed  to  l)e  more  woodland  loving  than  the  short-tailed  species, 
though  at  Bennett  a  number  were  taken  among  bare  rocks  at  the  very 
water's  edge.  I  first  noticed  them  here  whiles  walking  along  the  shore 
at  night.  They  wei'(5  darting  in  and  out  among  the  rocks,  <'hasing 
each  other  as  if  playing  ti  game  of  tag,  and  often  four  or  five  were  in 
sight  at  once.  /'  (O'cax  from  the  type  locality  is  somewhat  intermedi- 
ate between  my  specimens  and  thosi^  which  come  from  t\w  coast  of 
Puget  Sound  and  southern  British  ('olumbia.  Northern  specimens 
are  slightly  larger,  paler,  and  less  ruddy  brown  than  typical  nrrKn. 
The}'  are  very  similar  in  color  to  oanad-'Huis  and  increase  the  prob- 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALS   OF   THE   YUKON   REGION. 


33 


ability  that  the  latter  ha.s  a  transcontinental  range.  Their  skulls  are 
larger  and  have  fuller  braincases  than  those  of  either  oreas  or  cana- 
densis. 

Peromyscas  manicula*-.»  arcticns  (Mearns).    Arctic  White-footed  Mouse. 

IRxiuromyg  leucojMs  ardicus  MeariiB,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hut.,  N.  Y.,  H,  285,  Feb., 
1890. 

A  short-tailed  white-footed  mouse  was  found  to  be  very  comnxjn 
from  Lake  Marsh  to  Lake  Lebarge.  Thirty  specimens  were  secured, 
most  of  them  about  the  crevices  of  low  ledges  of  I'ock  along  the  lake 
shores.  The  name  arct/'cus  is  only  tentatively  ased  for  these  speci- 
mens, as  its  applicability  can  not  l)e  positively  known  until  a  series  of 
Labrjulor  specimens  is  obtained.  My  specimens  do  not  differ  from 
topotypes  of  aroticus,  and  these  in  turn,  as  stated  by  Bangs,'  do  not 
differ  in  color  and  size  from  tj^pical  inanioulatiis.  The  description  of 
the  skull  of  the  Gifc  vt  Whale  River  specimen  examined  by  Bangs,  how- 
ever, does  not  agree  N-^ell  with  the  chai-acters  of  the  skulls  of  arctlcus, 
so  it  seems  advisable  to  recognize  arctlcus  as  a  subspecies  of  manicu- 
kitm.  It  is  probal)le  that  more  material  will  amply  justify  this  treat- 
ment of  the  western  form. 


m 


.. 


Neotoma  sazamans  sp.  nov.     Northern  Bushy-tailed  Rat. 

Type  from  Bt'unett  City,  head  of  Iskv  Bennett,  British  Cohniiuia.  No.  98923,  U.  S. 
Nat.  MuH.,  Biological  Survey  Collection,  $  ad.  Collected  June  19,  1899,  by 
W.  H.  Osgood.    Original  No.,  462.     (See  Plate  V,  fig.  4.) 

Chanictirs. — Similar  to  Neotoma  citierea  drKmnumdi,  but  somewhat 
darker:  underpaiis  pure  white;  skull  strongly  characterized. 

Color. — (Tj'pe:)  Above,  grajMsh  fawn  mixed  with  lilack,  becoming 
brighter  on  sides,  where  the  quantity  of  black  is  much  diminished; 
underparts  and  feet  pure  white;  eyelids  intense  black  with  a  limited 
sooty  area  about  them;  nose  and  anterior  cheeks  ashy;  tail  slaty  above, 
white  below. 

Skull. — Similar  to  that  of  JV.  drummondl  (Plate  V,  fig.  3')  but  with 
intcrorbitrtl  space  nai'rower;  nasals  narrower  and  more  attenuate  j)os- 
tcriorly;  maxillary  arm  of  zygoma  lighter;  sphenopalatine  vacuities 
optMi;  ventral  surface  of  occipital  with  a  high  trenchant  median  ridge; 
front  of  incisors  very  pale. 

Mfasuri'nit'iits. — Type  (from  dry  skin):  Total  length  452;  tail  verte- 
brie  l'J2;  hind  foot  -1:6.  Skull  of  type:  Ba.sal  length  62;  zygomatic 
breadth  2!»;  interorbital  width  5;  length  of  na.sals  23. 

Remarks. — Neotoma  saxainaus  differs  from  N.  cluerea^^  N.  occldcn- 


«Ain.  NttturaliHt,  XXXTI,  49B,  July,  1898. 

"^NeoUma  c.  rolnmhiaiia  KUiot  dooH  not  differ  craiiially  from  N,  clncrca,  and  therc- 
foH'  need  i.n)t  be  conHideretl  in  this  connection. 
'No.  75907,  U.  S.  Nat.  Muh.,  from  JasiHjr  House,  Alberta. 
4491— No.  1S> 3 


(I 


ri 


34 


NORTH   AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


t 


tfiU^^  and  N.  druvbirumdl  chiefly  in  its  long  attenuate  nasaln,  open 
sphenopalatine  vacuities,  and  pale  Incisors.  The  only  specimens 
secured  were  caught  in  a  slide  of  large  granite  bowlders  at  the  head  of 
Lake  Bennett.  It  was  ascertained  to  occur,  however,  from  White 
Pass  to  the  Semenow  Hills.  In  the  cliffs  above  Glacier  on  the  coast 
side  of  White  Pass  I  found  signs  of  Neotoma^  and  once  one  peeped 
out  of  a  crevice  at  me  while  I  was  busily  engaged  stalking  a  hoary 
marmot.  It  also  occurs  sparingly  in  the  cliffs  alwut  Lake  Lebarge 
and  in  the  Semenow  Hills,  where  the  last  evidences  of  its  presence 
were  seen.     This  distribution  makes  it  the  northernmost  species  of 

the  genus. 

One  night  about  10.30,  as  I  was  returning  to  camp  at  Bennett,  I  saw 
one  of  these  rats  frisking  about  in  the  rocks.  It  was  still  quite  light, 
and  I  immediately  stopped  and  stood  motionless  while  he  daited  in  and 
out  of  the  rocks.  His  movements  were  utterly  noiseless  nnd  so  quick 
that  my  eye  could  scarcely  follow  them.  For  some  time  his  little 
whiskered  nose  appeared  and  disappeared  at  various  openiiigs  in  the 
rocks  about  ten  feet  away.  Each  time  he  would  look  steadily  at  me 
for  a  moment  or  two  and  then  silently  vanish.  Gradually  his  curiosity 
overcame  his  caution,  and  in  decreasing  circles  he  canio  nearer  and 
nearer  until  he  bobbed  out  right  before  me  and  then  cautiously 
approached  until  he  could  sniff  at  the  toe  of  my  shoe.  A  slight  grat- 
ing of  my  gun  barrel  against  a  rock  caused  him  to  vanish  like  a  flash, 
and  this  time  he  did  not  reappear. 

Evotomys  dawsoni  Merriam.     Dawson  Rcd-l>acked  Mouse. 

Red-backed  mice  are  by  far  the  most  almndant  iiuuniuals  in  the 
Yukon  region.  Although  but  one  specimen  was  taken  at  Beiuiett, 
and  none  between  there  and  Fifty-Mile  River,  in  spite  of  considerable 
trapping,  asidd;  from  this  they  were  found  all  along  our  routt^  from 
Skagway  to  Fort  Yukon.  The  following  are  the  most  important 
localities  at  which  specimens  were  secured:  Skagway,  Glacier,  Ben- 
nett, White  Horse  Rapids,  Lake  Lebarge,  Rink  Rapids,  Fort  Sdkii'k, 
Dawson,  Char.lie  Creek,  and  Circle.  From  a  study  of  this  series, 
which  munbers  over  100  specimens,  it  appears  that  all  Ix'long  t/o  one 
species,  E.  daiummi.  Its  range  probably  reaches  northward  almost  if 
not  quite  to  the  limit  of  trees. 

Specimens  were  trapped  in  all  sorts  of  localities;  along  cold  streams, 
under  logs,  in  heavy  moss,  iti  Mlerotux  runways,  and  among  i-ocks. 
They  aliound  on  the  large  islands,  where  they  were  generally  caught 
in  dry,  l)rushy  places,  in  the  dead  leaves  which  cover  the  ground. 
We  occasionally  saw  them  du'-ing  the  day,  and  often  heard  tliem  rust- 
ling the  dead  leaves  on  the  ground  about  us  as  we  lay  in  our  blankets 
at  night.  They  are  the  vermin  of  the  miner's  larder,  and  are  always 
to  be  found  about  log  cabins. 


0» 


V 


'■: 


/ 


-sprrr 


North  American  Fauna   No.  19. 


Plate  V. 


Skulls  of  Sciurus  and  Neotoma.    (y  u.) 


.H, 


>  ii 


'.i 


;|i 


1.  Sriiirim  vniirinnrrruiiiK. 

2.  N'(i(iHx  /iiiilwniCKH  ])iiiitanii. 


;l.  .Sinlniiia  ciurrrn  ilrummondi. 
4.  yt'ittown  wixrrmd/j.i. 


4» 


'  I 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALS    OF   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


ar) 


•it* 


Evotomys  dawsoni  alascensis  (Miller).     Tundra  Rod-backed  Mouse. 
Erotomi/n  (danrfin^in  Miller,  PrcK!.  Aca<l.  Nat.  Kfi.  Phila.,  1898,  ,364-367. 

The  Evotwnys  found  at  St.  Michael  hii«  heretofore  been  compared 
only  with  the  Asiatic  E.  rut'ilm.  Its  closest  relationship  is  really  with 
E.  davmmi,  with  which  its  range  is  doubtless  continuous.  On  com- 
paring the  .series  secured  at  St.  Michael  with  those  in  the  same  condi- 
tion of  pelage  from  Rink  Rapids,'  Northwest  Territory,  I  am  utmlile 
to  find  even  the  slightest  difference  in  color  or  size.  The  skull  of 
alastensis  is  slightly  chai*acterized  by  small,  narrow  molar  series,  and 
by  na.ssl.8  which  have  their  posterior  end  truncate.  The  palate  and 
audital  buUai  are  not  peculiar.  The  tail  is  often  thick  and  bristly  in 
winter  pelage  and  in  immature;  specimens  of  both  dmmoui  and  alasceii- 
sis.  From  this  it  appears  that  aldscensi'i  may  be  onl}^  a  slightly 
marked  subspecies. 

The  favorite  habitat  of  these  mice  about  St.  Michael  is  in  the  heaps 
of  broken  lava  scattered  about  over  tlie  tundra.  They  are  very  rarely 
taken  in  the  Microims  riuiways.  T'hf^v  arc;  coumion  in  the  warehouses, 
which  they  seem  to  enter  more  readily  than  other  mice  of  the  tundra. 

MicrotuB  mordax  (Merriam).     Ijong-tailed  Vole. 

Specimens  of  this  vole  wer<^  taken  at  Skagway,  Glacit.i",  Bennett, 
Lake  Marsh,  Lake  Lebarge,  Rink  Rapids,  and  near  Charlie  Village. 
Specimens  from  near  the  coast  are  almost  exactly  like  those  of  the  inte- 
rior and  all  are  quite  typical  of  the  sp»M'ies.  The\'  were  found  in  various 
environments,  but  the  general  habitat  of  the  species  was  dry  places 
rather  than  moist.  At  Gla<;;ier  and  Bennett  th(n'  were  secured  on  dry, 
rocky  hillsides;  at  Lake  Marsh  two  specimens  were  faiken  in  the  crev- 
ises  of  some  granite  rocks;  iit  Laki;  Lel)arge  they  were  taken  in  the 
kitchen  of  a  log  csibin;  at  Rink  Rjipids,  in  an  open,  sandy  place;  and 
near  Charlie  Village,  on  the  side  of  a  cut  bank,  where  they  had  made 
burrows  and  runways  among  the  exposed  roots  of  trees.  Charlie 
Village  is  l)y  far  the  northernmost  locality  from  which  the  species  has 
been  recorded. 

Microtas  drummondi  (Aud.  and  Bach.).     Drunnnond  Vole. 

This  is  the  most  common  meadow  vole  of  the  Yukon  region.  At 
Caribou  Crossing  and  Laki;  Marsh  its  runways  form  interminable 
labyrinths  in  the  level,  open  stretch(\s  of  sedge  at  the  margin  of  the 
water.  It  occurs  in  nearly  all  moist,  grassy  places  from  Caribou 
Crossing  to  Fort  Yukon.  From  there  it  undoubtedly  ranges  farther 
on,  at  least  to  Nulato,  where  Dali  took  several  spec-imens.  It  is  most 
active  during  the  day,  as  I  easily  hiarned  by  visiting  traps  night  and 


'  No  good  series  of  HpecirueiiH  w  available  fnim  any  point  nearer  Finlayson  River, 
the  typo  locality  of  /'.'.  dawsoni,  than  Rink  RapidH.  This  series  in  therefore  used  to 
represent  the  speeies. 


:  1    1 


.l.m 


r 


NORTH   AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[no.  19. 


n 


morning.  Near  Fort  Yukon  I  found  its  runways  on  recently  depos- 
ited silt  sparsely  grown  up  to  Equuetum.  Its  burrows  in  this  soft 
material  were  very  numerous,  and  at  the  entrance  to  each  a  little  heap 
of  earth  in  small  globular  lumps,  as  if  carried  in  the  mouth,  wais 
always  to  be  seen. 

Miorotus  xanthognathns  (Leach).     Ycllow-cbeekod  Vole. 

This  fine  species  was  met  with  only  once.  A  small  colony  wa*i  found 
on  a  little  stream  near  Charlie  Village,  occupying  an  old  log  jam, 
part  of  which  had  become  embedded  in  a  matrix  of  sand  and  mud  and 
overgrown  with  weeds.  Burrow.s  perforated  this  structure  in  inuner- 
ous  places,  and  well-beaten,  open  runways  connected  various  opt^nings 
about  the  protruding  logs.  The  little  animals  were  quite  active  during 
the  daytime,  and  as  I  walked  over  the  logs  I  occasionally  saw  one  flash 
from  one  opening  under  a  log  to  another  and  heai'd  shaip  little  squeaks 
sounding  all  about  beneath  mo.  A  liberal  number  of  traps  placed 
about  yielded  nine  specimens,  chiefly  immature.  The  colony  Avas 
apparently  confined  to  the  log  jam,  as  traps  set  in  suitable  places  but 
a  few  yards  away  secured  only  31.  drummondi.  Four  specimens  of 
this  vole  collected  by  Robert  Kennicott  are  in  the  National  Museum, 
one  from  the  mouth  of  the  Porcupine  and  three  from  the  Yukon,  200 
miles  southwest  of  that  point. 

Microtus  operarins  (Nelson).     Nelson  Vole. 

This  vole  was  taken  on  a  small  stream  about  40  miles  above  Circle, 
and  a  few  more  were  secured  between  that  point  and  Fort  Yukon.  It 
doubtless  ranges  from  there  to  the  coast.  Forty-nine  specimens  were 
taken  at  St.  Michael.  These  represent  all  stages  of  growth  and  several 
phases  of  color  and  seem  to  offer  pretty  conclusive  proof  that  but  one 
species  of  Microtits  occurs  at  St.  Michael.  It  was  found  in  all  moist 
parts  of  the  tundra,  being  particularly  numerous  along  t^a  banks  of 
the  small  ponds  :n  the  tall  grass  and  rank,  weedy  growths. 

Fiber  spatulatns'  sp.  nov.     Northwest  Muskrat. 

Type  from  Lake  Marsh,  Northwest  Territory,  Canada.  No.  98567,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
Biological  Survey  Collection,  9  yg.  ad.  Collected  July  3,  185)9,  by  W.  H. 
Osgood.    Original  No.,  552.     (See  Plate  VI,  fig.  4. ) 

Clmracters. — Similar  in  general  to  Fiher  zlhethlctiH;  size  small;  vxAor 
rather  dark;  skull  small;  molar  teeth  very  small;  nasals  short  and 
much  expanded  anteriorlj\ 

Color. — Similar  to  Fihei'  zibet hicus,  but  apparently  less  suffused 
with  fulvous. 

Skull. — Similar  to  that  of  Fiber  zihetklcus  (Plate  VI,  fig.  S"),  but 
smaller;  jugals  more  slender,  and  but  slightly  produced  dorsally ;  audital 
bullae  smaller;  molar  teeth  decidedly  smaller;  nasals  much  shortened  and 

^ Spalulatm,  spatulatc,  in  allusion  to  tho  shape  of  the  nasals. 
»No.  76259,  U.  8.  Nat.  Mus.,  from  Wilmington,  Mas^, 


1 

1 


*    f 


n 
* 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALS   OP  THE   YUKON   REGION. 


37 


f 


*    I      * 


^ 


I 


widely  expanded  anteriorly,  rapidly  becoming  compressed  posteriorly; 
angular  process  of  mandible  short,  blunt,  and  upturned;  condyle 
nai-row  and  .somewhat  rounded. 

MeoKurementH. — Tj^pe  (from  dry  skin):  Total  length  495;  tail  verte- 
bral 170;  hind  foot  78.  Skull  of  type:  Ba.sal  length  57;  zygomatic 
breadth  38;  length  of  na.sals  21;  alveolar  length  of  molar  series  14. 

RcvKirks. — Specimens  of  thi.s  .species  from  llga.shik.  Fort  Kenai, 
Nushagak,  and  Nulato,  in  Alaska,  have  been  examined.  Besides 
these,  I  tind  two  specimens  from  Alberta  which  seem  to  be  refeiiible 
to  it,  one  from  South  Edmonton  and  one  from  Henry  Hou.se.  These 
all  agree  in  having  very  small  molar  teeth  and  .short,  .spatulate  na.sals, 
characters  which  are  amply  sufficient  to  distinguish  the  .species  from 
all  other  forms  in  the  genus.  The  specimens  secured  by  Nelson  at 
St.  Michael  can  not  now  be  foiuid,  but  they  doubtless  show  the  same 
characters.  Fiber  osoi/oo^ous/'x  has  larger  teeth  and  a  muvh  longer 
rostrum  than  spatnltitu^,  so  need  not  be  further  compared  with  it. 
From  these  facts  it  appears  that  FHxr  xjpatulatm  is  the  form  occupying 
all  of  northwest  America,  and  is  derived  from  a  form  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountjvins  rather  than  from  a  western  one. 

Muskrats  occur  sparingly  all  along  the  Yukon,  where  they  find  par- 
ticularly favorable  environment  about  the  many  small  swamp-invested 
ponds  a  short  distimce  from  the  river  banks.  At  St.  Michael  a  few 
are  still  found  about  the  open  ponds  on  the  tundra. 

Synaptomys  dalli  Merriam.     Dall  Lemmii^j;  Mouse. 

Lemming  mice  were  taken  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Lebarge,  at  Rink 
Rapids,  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chandindu  River.  At  Lake 
Lebarge  they  were  found  in  the  long  grass  at  the  edge  of  a  small  pond; 
at  other  localities  in  cold,  boggy  places  near  .small  t  ciins.  The 
external  characters  of  S.  dull!  have  been  unknown  up  iv,  me  pi'esent 
time,  but,  as  was  to  be  expected,  they  are  in  accordance  with  the  gen- 
eral type  so  uniform  throughout  this  genus.  The  color  of  the  upper- 
parts  is  chiefly  raw  umber  mixed  with  black;  the  lower  parts  are  uni- 
form l)luish  white,  and  the  feet  and  tail  are  dusky.  The  ears  are  of 
medium  size  and  partially  hidden  by  long  hairs  growing  from  the 
anterior  ba.se;  a  conspicuous  bluish-white  side  gland  is  present  in  the 
males.  The  skull  of  the  tj'^pe  of  daUl  is  not  fully  mature  and  does 
not  agree  in  all  particulars  with  my  specimens  from  the  Upper  Yukon. 
In  these  the  skull  is  somewhat  larger  and  heavier  and  the  nasals  iire  a 
trifle  longer  and  more  noticesrbly  constricted  posteriorly. 

Lemmas  yukonensis  Merriam.     Yukon  Lemming. 

Lemmus  yukoneims  Merriam,  Proc.  Wash.  Acjul.  Sci.,  II,  27,  March  14,  1900. 

This  lemming  was  found  at  only  two  localities — Rink  liapids,  where 
five  specimens  were  secured,  and  Charlie  Creek,  where  five  more  were 


i  1 


'\\  I 


m 


iflral 


r    =1 


r 


8» 


NORTH    AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


m 


•  i  ) 

■I 

i 


il 


?  ' 


taken.  Considemble  careful  trapping  was  done  at  various  points 
between  these  two  places,  but  no  other  specimens  were  s(!cure(l.  At 
Rink  Rapids  they  were  caught  about  old  logs  and  among  dry  leaves  in 
places  usually  frequented  by  red-backed  mice.  At  Charlie  Creek  one 
was  caught  in  a  M/'c/'ottM  runway  and  seveml  were  secured  on  the  side 
of  a  cut  bank.  On  one  occasion  one  was  seen  running  about  under  a 
brush  heap  in  middjiy. 

Lemmus  alascensis  Merriam.     Alaska  Lemming. 

///•w?«iw  rt/««r«ijri«  Merriam,  I'roc.  Wiwli.  Acad.  Sci.,  II,  2()-27,  Man^h  14, 1 !)()(). 

All  cflforts  to  secure  this  species  at  St.  Michael  proved  fruitless. 
I  kept  large  numbers  of  traps  out  for  more  than  two  weeks  and  set 
them  in  all  conceivable  locations  about  the  tundra,  but  failed  to  catch 
any  lemmings. 

Dicrostonyx  nelsoni  Merriam.     Nelson  Pied  Lemming. 

DicroMmnj.v  iiel»om  Merriam,  Proc.  Wash.  Acwl.  8(i.,  II, 2.5-20, March  14,  1!KK). 
DicroMomj.v  hudsonki*  alascetmg  Stone,  I'roc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  Mardi  24,  1!)00, 
37-38. 

No  specimens  of  this  species  were  taken.     Nelson  says  of  it: 

SiHJcimens  were  brought  me  by  the  fur  tran'TH  from  above  Fort  Yukon  and  from 
Nulato,  Anvik,  and  Kotlik,  along  the  courne  of  the  Yukon,  and  alno  from  the  Kaviak 
Peninsula  and  about  Kotzebue  Sound.  A  few  were  taken  near  St.  Michiu'l,  but 
they  were  not  numerous  there.  Tliey  are  more  j)lentiful  about  Bering  Straits  tiian 
any  otlier  district  visited  by  me,  if  the  number  of  their  skins  among  the  native 
children  i-an  be  taken  as  a  guide.  » 

Zapns  hadsonius  alascensis  Merriam.     Alaska  Jumping  Mouse. 

Three  typical  specimens  of  this  jumping  mouse  were  taken  in  a 
sedgy  swamp  near  the  foot  of  Lake  Lobarge.  Similar  swamps  exist 
near  the  Yukon,  at  least  as  far  as  Fort  Yukon,  but  I  was  unable  to  do 
any  trapping  in  them.     No  specimens  were  taken  elsewhere. 

Erethizon  epizanthus  myops  Meri'iam.     Alaska  Porcupine. 

Erethizon  ejiixuHtliux  mijopK  Merriam,  Proc.  Wasli.  Acad.  S(U.,  II,  27-28,  March  14, 1900. 
Porcupines  are  (juite  common  in  all  the  forest  region  of  Alaska. 
I  noticed  signs  of  them  at  nianj'  places  along  the  Yukon.  They  were 
abundant  about  Glacier,  in  the  White  Pass  region,  and  I  shot  one  thei'e 
one  evening  as  it  swayed  ))ack  and  forth  in  the  tap  of  a  shMider  alder. 
It  was  eating  the  leaf  buds  which  were  just  ))ursting. 

Ochotona  coUaris  (Kelson).     Ahuska  Pika. 

Two  specimens  of  an  nshy  gray  (h'hotana  were  taken,  one  at  the 
summit  of  White  Pa.js,  anotLor  at  the  head  of  Lake  Bennett.  The 
species  was  apparently  qui+e  n.re  at  these  localities  and  it  was  only 
with  considerable  difficulty  that  these  individuals  were  secured.  Both 
are  very  pile,  ashy  gray,  with  pure  white  underparts,  no  traces  of 


'    \ 


.    . 


i 


(XT..  lOOO.l 


Mammals  of  thk  Yukon  rkoion. 


3d 


fulvous,  iiiul  very  iudistincit  <'ollars.  They  are  in  the  early  sprhifj  or 
left-over  winter  pelajje,  and  agree  (juite  well  with  spceiinens  in  the 
same  jjelage  collected  in  the  Chigniit  Mountains,  near  Bristol  Hay,  hy 
C  L.  MeKay.  The  type  and  topotypes  of  O.  collaris  are  in  the 
summer  or  post-breeding  pelage  and  present  quite  a  different 
appearance. 

The  species  apparently  occrurs  in  the  high  mountains  throughout 
Alaska.  It  was  reported  to  me  from  the  MacMillan  Mountains,  the 
Upper  Stewart  River,  the  Upper  White,  and  the  Upper  Tanana. 
Fragments  of  a  skull  were  found  in  an  owl  pellet  picked  up  by  Dr. 
Rishop  near  Windy  Arm,  Lake  Tagish.  The  present  record  from 
While  Pass  is  the  most  southern  one.  Thcie  is  suitable  country  for 
it  farther  south,  and  it  will  be  interestini^  to  trace  its  range  in  this 
direction. 

Lepus  saliens  sp.  nov. 

T'liif  from  ('iirilK)ti  CrosHing,  between  Lake  Bennett  and  Lake  Tagish,  Nortliwest 
Tcrrittiry,  Canada.  No.  i)8956,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Biological  Survey  Collection,  $ 
a<l.    Collected  June  26, 1890,  by  W.  H.  Osfeood.    Original  No.,  504. 

CUara<iterH. — Similar  to  Lepus  halnli,  but  more  yellowish  and  less 
ruddy;  dorsal  hairs  with  plumbeous  roots;  feet  nearly  white  in  sum- 
mer; similar  to  Z.  co/umbioimx,*  but  with  greater  amount  of  black  in 
dorsal  region;  feet  much  lighter;  skull  similar  in  general  to  that  of 
Lepus  a.  dalli;  audital  l)ullft5  very  large. 

Col<n\ — Type  in  worn  uprint/  pelage:  Upperparts  mixed  black  and 
yellowish  l)uff,  with  patches  of  plumbeous  under-fur  exposed  in  places; 
black  hairs  predominating  on  rump  and  middle  of  back,  forming  an 
•Il-detined  dorsal  stripe;  outer  edge  of  thighs,  outer  side  of  forelegs 
and  pectoral  band  buff;  ears  and  head,  except  sides  of  nose,  buff  with 
black  hairs  sprinkled  through;  sides  of  nose  gray;  ears  margined  with 
white;  hairs  of  fore  and  hind  feet  plumbeous  at  base,  rufous  in  cen- 
tral part,  and  ))roadly  white  at  tips;  general  appearance  of  feet  white, 
lightly  mixed  with  rufous;  underparts,  except  pectoral  band,  white. 

Shidl. — Similar  to  that  of  dalli  but  somewhat  larger;  teeth  heavier; 
nasals  long,  heavy,  and  very  broad  anteriorly;  audital  bulla?  very 
large;  palate  short;  malars  rather  wide,  deeply  channeled  anteriorly; 
postorbital  and  antorbital  processes  of  frontals  well  developed. 

MeasKf'ements.  —Typa  (measured  from  dry  skiii):  Total  length  395; 
hind  foot  184;  ear  from  crown  74.  Skull  of  type:  Occipitonasal 
length  77;  greatest  zygomatic  breadth  38;  length  of  nasals  33;  great- 
est width  of  nasals  17;  alveolar  length  of  molar  series  15. 

Remarks. — The  exact  relation  in  which  this  species  stands  to  ameri- 
camut,  bairdi,  and  columbiensis  is  difficult  to  determine  at  present.  Its 
light  feet  point  to  relationship  with  bairdi,  while  its  dark  under  color 

'  Rhoads,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1895, 242-243. 


ii 


J 


■m 


K^l 


40 


JNCRTH    AMERICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


and  jj»'iiei"ai  buflfy  appi^irance  are  more  like  columhiensu.  Its  skull 
is  ({uite  distin(itive,  the  large  audital  bulhe  and  broad  nasals  being 
unequaled  in  the  group.  It  seems  probable  that  it  its  a  northern 
form  of  hairdi  not  related  to  colmnhicnsis^  which  is  nearer  to  lonHhing- 
tmii.  There  are  no  specimens  available  to  show  whether  or  not  it  has 
any  connection  with  dalll,  which  is  the  form  found  on  the  Lower 
Yukon.  But  two  specimens  were  secured — the  type,  which  I  shot  in  a 
Lej>argyraia  thicket  at  Caribou  Crossing,  and  one  very  young  female 
which  Dr.  Bishop  took  in  a  willow  bog  near  Bennett  City.  It  seems 
to  have  been  a  decidedly  'off  year'  for  rabbits,  for  thec-^  two  were  the 
only  ones  we  saw  on  our  entire  trip,  though  numerous  signs  of  their 
former  abundance  were  seen  dsily. 

Lepus  americanus  dalli  Merriam.  Pali  Varying  Hare. 
Lepm  americanus  dalli  Merriam,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  S(U.,  II,  29-30,  March  14,  1900. 
This  rabbit  is  doubtless  abundant  at  oertiiin  times  all  along  the 
Lower  Yukon,  but  wo  heard  very  little  of  it.  It  is  subject  to  epidem- 
ics and  frequently  becomes  locally  extinct,  which  probably  accoimt** 
for  its  scarcity  last  year. 

Lepus  othus  Merriam.     Alaska  .A.rctic  Hare. 

Lepm  othus  Merriam,  Pro*;.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  II,  28,  Marcli  14,  1900. 

Signs  of  Arctic  hares  were  occasionally  noticed  about  St.  Michael, 
but  we  did  not  see  any  of  the  animals.  The  Eskimos  were  hunting 
continually,  and  brought  numbers  of  ducks  and  geese  to  the  village  to 
sell,  but  they  brought  no  rabbits  during  our  stay. 

Lynx  canadensis  molIipilo..n8  Stone.     Arctic  Lynx. 

Lyiu-  mvadimnitt  moUipilomn  Stone,  Proc.  Acatl.  Nat.  Sci,  Phila.,  March  24, 1900, 48-49. 

The  Caniula  lynx  is  not  as  conmion  in  the  interior  of  Alaska  as  might 
be  expected.  I  sa'v  no  sigiH  of  it  and  could  o1)tain  only  veiy  .scanty 
information  as  to  its  oc(  urrenco.  The  police  sergeant  in  charge  of  the 
station  at  the  ft)ot  of  Lake  LeJjarge  told  me  that  the  tracks  of  l)ut 
one  had  been  seen  in  that  vicinity  during  the  previous  wint<'r.  Lynx- 
skin  robes  are  in  common  use  in  the  country,  l)ut  the  majority  of  them 
are  imjwrted.  This  I  learned  from  a  trader  at  CircU',  who  had  isev(?ral 
for  sale  that  came  from  ea.stern  and  southern  Canada. 

Lynx  skulls  from  the  following  localities  are  in  the  National 
Museum:  Taniuia  River,  Russian  Mission,  Nulato,  Andraefski,  and 
mountains  ikmit  Unalakleet. 

Oanis  occidentalis  Richardson.     Wolf. 

The  country  along  the  Yukon  is  not  well  suited  for  wolves,  and  they 
are  seldom  seen  there.  A  prospectoi'  showed  me  the  skin  of  ii  large 
gray  one  from  the  upper  waters  of  the  Mac.Millan  rivei" — the  only 
one  1  saw  on  the  trip. 


J 


<■        « 


J 


OCT.,  1900.] 


MAMMALS   OF   THE    YUKON   REGION. 


41 


I 


ij 


Vulpes  fnlvus  (Desmarest)  ?     Red  Fox. 

Occasional  reports  of  foxes  were  received  all  along  our  route,  but  no 
specimens  were  secured.  Owing  to  their  natural  sagacity,  foxes  are 
doubtless  able  to  hold  their  own  against  trappcn-s  bett.>r  than  most  other 
fur-bearing  animals.  Their  skins  are  quite  common  among  traders 
and  natives. 

Vulpes  halle  isis  Merriam.     Hall  Island  Fox. 
VtUpe^  hallmsis  Merriam,  Pro*;.  Wash.  Aead.  Sci.,  II,  1.5-16,  March  14,  1900. 

White  fox  skins  are  common  among  the  natives  and  traders  at  St. 
Michael,  and  could  be  bought  at  from  '^l  to  ^-t  each,  according  to 
quality.  During  ^^vr  stay  there  one  of  the  animals  was  seen  on  the 
island,  which  indicates  that  they  are  still  far  from  extermination. 

TTrsus  americanus  Pallas.     Kiack  xiear. 

Black  and  l)rown  bears  ure  common  all  along  the  Yukon.  We  found 
them  connnon  on  the  upi'cr  river,  and  Nelson  records  them  as  far  down 
as  Anvik.  We  saw  tra<  ks  very  frequently,  but  owing-  to  the  thick 
forest  and  underbrush,  and  the  fact  that  we  made  no  special  hunts  for 
them,  the  animals  themse' 'es  were  rarely  observed.  A  j'oung  adult 
female  in  glossy  black  pelage  was  killed  at  Glacier  by  A.  (t.  Maddr(Mi, 
and  several  othei's  were  seen  during  oui"  stsiy  th(?re.  I  was  told  at 
Lake  Lebarge  and  at  AVhite  Horse  liapids  that  brown  bears  were  seen 
very  frequently.  At  Fort  Selkirk  I  saw  skins  brought  fi'om  the  Pelly 
Rivci-.  Near  Charlie  Village  1  saw  the  skin  of  a  large  })n)wii  bear 
that  had  been  killed  there  shortly  befon*  our  arrival.  One  afternoon 
while  sitting  in  the  boat  preparing  specimens,  al)out  20  miles  al)ove 
Circle,  I  saw  a  good-sized  l)lack  bear  walling  deliberately  across  an 
open  space  on  a  hillside  a  slnn't  <listanc<'  away.  We  gave  chase,  but 
did  not  see  it  again.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Tatondu  River  1  saw 
numerous  tracks,  and  on  the  border  of  a  stagnant  pool  fcund  evidences 
that  bruin  had  l)eeii  enjoying  annul  bath.  Moss  upi'ooted  l»y  Ijears  in 
digging  for  roots  was  noticed  at  several  places. 

TTrsus  horribilis  alascensis  Merriam.     Alaska  (xrizzly  Bear. 

Very  little  accurate  infonnation  is  o)>t:iinahle  in  regard  to  >he  grizzlj- 
in  the  Yukon  region.  It  doiih)  less  occurs  sparingly  all  along  the  i-iver, 
but  niin(>rs  and  piospectors  rej)ort  ai)y  large  bear  as  a  grizzly,  and 
without  do>i!)t  often  mistake  the  brt>wn  bear  for  it.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  its  skulls  f  I'om  Norton  Sound  in  the  Biological  Survey  collectitni. 

Lutra  canadensis  (Schre})er).     American  Otter. 

The  fate  of  the  otter  in  Alaska  is  nuich  the  same  as  that  of  the  bea- 
ver. There  are  doubtless  a  few  on  some  of  the  smaller  streams  of  th(> 
inti-rior  and  about  the  Yukon  ^ll'lta,  l»iit  they  are  now  quite  rare  in 
comparison  with  their  former  altiuidance. 


m 


Ml 

''III 


IM 


i-:  il 


42 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


i 


Ml 


IS3 


11    \ 

I: 


Lutreola  vison  ingens  .siibsp.  nov.     Alaska  Mink. 

Type  (skull)  from  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska.     No.  6530,  V.  8.  Nat.  Muh.,  S   a<l.,  old. 
Collected  by  Roln-rt  Kennicott.     (See  Plate  VI,  flg.  2. ) 

C'hanwters. — Size  largest  of  North  Anierit^an  mink;  similar  to  L.  v. 
energufnenos,  but  lighter  in  color  and  very  nmch  larger;  skull  and  t(H^th 
very  large  and  heavy. 

Color. — Similar  in  general  to  Lutreola  v.  (mergumerios,  but  palei-. 

Skidl. — Very  large,  angular,  and  ridged;  rostrum  very  wide;  luiiin- 
case  relatively  shallow  and  very  wide;  zygomata  heavy;  audital  Inillw 
large  and  relatively  wide;  dentition  heavy.  (Compare  with  skull  of 
Lutreola  V.  energwnenott,  Plate  VI,  tig.  1.*) 

Mexjmirements. — No.  13880,  U.  S.  National  Museum,  St.  Michael, 
Alaska  (from  dry  skin):  Total  length  720;  tail  vertebraj  180;  hind 
foot  75.  Skull  of  type:  Occipitonasal  length  (>!♦;  zygomatic  breadth  47; 
mastoid  breadth  -11:  lireadth  across  postor})itjd  processes  23;  length 
of  audital  l)ulla  17.  Average  of  five  adults:  Occipitonasal  length 
44.5;  ma.stoid  breadth  31).  5;  breadth  across  postorbital  processes  21; 
length  of  audital  bulla  17.5. 

Rem^rl'«. — The  large  size  of  the  Ala.ska  mink  has  been  noted  hj 
various  authors,*  but  eat^h  has  dismissed  the  subject  by  concluding 
that  it  is  the  natural  result  of  the  animal's  northern  range,  and  the 
form  has  remained  unnamed,  while  lass  marked  forms  from  other  local- 
ities have  been  recognized.  The  largest  mink  previously  described 
is  L.  V.  energiuiirDOH,  which  is  very  nmch  smaller  than  inyeuM  and  also 
averages  much  darker. 

The  minks  of  the  Yukon  region  are  caught  mostly  on  the  tributary 
streamf  and,  as  stated  by  Nelson,  are  very  abundant  in  the  area 
))etween  the  deltas  of  the  Yukon  and  the  Kuskokwim.  Along  the 
Yukon  itself  our  party  did  not  see  any,  and  very  few  signs  of  them 
were  observed.  Their  skins  wer«>  seldom  seen  among  the  Indians  and 
Eskimos.  They  w(M'(>  reported,  however,  fi'om  the  Porcupine,  Koyn- 
kuk,  Tanana,  and  various  other  strwuns  tril)utary  to  the  Yukon,  and 
without  douf)t  occur  in  suitable  places  all  over  Alaska 


FutoriuB  arotiouB  Merriam.     Tundm  Weasel. 

Jhitorius  arcticm  Merriam,  N.  Am.  Fauna  No.  11,  15,  June,  1898. 
PuloriiiK  nroijmini  richarthoiil  'Slvrrimn,  I.  c,  11-12  (part). 

Three  immature  specimens  of  this  weasel  were  t4iken  at  St.  Michael. 
They  were  caught  in  traps  Iniited  with  sandpipers  and  set  among  the 
lava  rocks  along  the  shore.  Several  specimens  which  were  also  secured 
at  St.  Mic'hael  by  Nelson  and  Turner  are  in  the  National  Museum. 
Besides  these  1  find  specinu^is  from  Nulato,  Foil  Yukon,  and  Fort 
Reliance,  which  gives  the  species  a  more  extensive  range  in  the  interioi" 
than  it  has  been  supposed  to  have.     Most  of  th«>se  specimens  aic 

'  No.  55.S7,  Hanjp'  collection,  from  SuinaH,  B.  C 

»  See  Allen,  Bull.  V.  S.  Gool  md  (ieoj;.  Survey  Terr..  II,  \V27-H'2»,  lH7tt. 


TTJT 


[NO.  19. 


ad.,  old. 


North  Ametican  Fauna,  No    19. 


Plate  VI. 


Skulls  of  Lutreola  and  Fiber.    iNmumi  sizr. 


m 


m 


I  I 


1.  t.iili'ii/ii  vliiiiii  nitriiiiiiiiiiii 
'2,  l.iili'iihi  fimiii  iiiiinii'. 


'A,   Filtrr  tihilhit'iiA. 
i.   Fihf  r  niiiittiliitu!<. 


-  4-    I 


,« 


^J 


1 


\\     I 


1 


"W? 


OCT.,  1900.  J 


MAMMALS    OF   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


43 


'  1 


(«* 


iniperf t'ct,  but  enough  skulls  are  now  at  hand  to  show  conchisively  that 
all  the  Yukon  speeiinens  heretofore  identitied  as  rlchardmid  are  really 
practically  identical  with  P.  arctlam  from  Point  Barrow. 

Putorius  cicognani  alascensis  (Merriaui).     Juneau  Weasel. 

A  single  iniinature  specimen  taken  20  miles  l)elow  Fort  Selkirk  is 
njferrcd  to  this  form.  Its  skull  is  rather  large  and  indicates  a  i)ossi))le 
intergradation  with  /*.  urctleu^;  otherwise  it  agrees  with  (ihixceHxlx. 

Putorius  rixosus  eskimo  Stone.     Alaska  Least  Weasel. 

Ihilorim  I'i.roxuts  cxkbiio  Stone,  Proc.  Aoutl.  Nat.  Soi.  Pliila.,  March  24,  lOCM),  44— 4.">. 

No  sp(!cimens  of  this  rare-  weasel  were  obtained.  There  are  three 
imperfect  specimens  in  the  National  Museum,  two  from  St.  Michael 
and  one  from  Fort  Reliance.  Besides  these  the  only  ones  recorded 
are  the  type  and  four  topotypes  from  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  and  the 
specimen  mentioned  by  Stone  (loc.  cit.)  from  Bethel,  Kuskokwim 
River,  Alaska. 

Mustela  americana  actuosa  subsp.  nov.     Alaska  Marten. 

Tiip<'  (skull)  from  Fort  Yukon,  Ala-ska.     No.  «04S,   U.  S.  Nat.  Mas.,  $  ad,  old. 
Colk'ctwl  l)y  Rolwrt  Kennicott.     (See  Plate  VH,  lig.  2. ) 

( 'lidr'icto'H.  —Similar  to  J/,  hrainalix,  but  larger;  cmnial  and  dental 
characters  distinctive. 

CW^f>/'.— (Topotype,  No.  6416,  U.S.N.M.,  ^  ad.):  Posterior  half  of 
upperparts  pule  ochraceous  butt',  shoulders  and  anterioi'  part(  f  upper- 
paj'ts  gradimlly  becoming  grayi.'-h;  entire  uppcn-parts,  except  head, 
overlaid  with  coar,se  l)rown  hairs;  her.  1,  including  cheeks  and  throat, 
pah^  grayish-white  lightly  mixed  with  .)rown,  especially  on  no.sc  and 
chin;  inside  and  edges  of  (>ars  whitisli,  outside  and  bases  of  ears 
l)r()wn;  underparts  simihir  to  upperparts,  but  darker  and  more  brown- 
ish on  chest;  an  irregular  patch  of  creamy  butf  mixed  with  white  on 
chest;  l(>gs  and  feet  dark  brown,  front  of  legs  with  mixture  of  gray 
hairs;  tail  brown,  somewhat  darker  at  tip,  and  with  a  slight  mixture 
of  gray  hairs. 

Skull. — Similar  to  that  of  2!,  hrximallx  (I'late  VII,  fig.  1*),  but  some- 
what larger;  relatively  longer  and  narrower;  interorbital  space  slightly 
narrower;  aiidital  l)idl»'  very  imich  larger  and  longer;  dentition  rela- 
tively nuich  weaker;  la.'-     i[)per  molar  decidedly  smaller. 

Miafnweinenh.—K  crage  of  four  adult  male  topotyi)es  measured  in 
the  flesh  by  the  collector:  Total  length  26.22  inches  (665  mm.);  tail 
verte])ra'  S.OH  inches  (22;{  nun.);  hind  foot  J-  '^''  inches  (10!>  mm.). 
Skull  of  ty))e:  Occipitonasal  length  Hh\  greatest  zygomatic  breadth 
55;  breadth  across  postorbitul  processes  24;  palatul  length  44;  length 
of  audihil  bulhe  1)>. 


'Type  No.  7417.  Han^rH  collection,  from  Okuk,  Lahnulor. 


44 


North  American  fauna. 


[no,  19. 


i| ':  > 


)>    J 


(?  i  • 


Remarhi. — Thi..  form  is  the  largest  of  the  subspecies  of  Mmtela 
amei'lcana.  M.  hrmnali«  is  also  large,  but  does  not  equal  actuosa^  and 
notwithstanding  its  smaller  size  has  heavier  dentition.  The  enor- 
mous audital  bullae  of  actuom  are  not  equaled  b}'  those  of  any  other 
member  of  the  group.  The  skulls  of  americana  (Plate  VII,  fig.  3*) 
and  caurina  are  so  very  nuu-h  smaller  than  those  of  hnimdiH  and  (wtu- 
ma  that  they  do  not  need  to  be  closely  compared.  In  a  good  series  of 
actvom  from  Fort  Yukon  and  Fort  McPherson  the  character.-  are  very 
constant.  A  large  number  of  skins  from  these  localities  present  very 
little  variation,  and  nearly  all  are  (|uite  light  coloi'ed  like  the  one 
described  above.  The  marten  is  still  the  commonest  fur-bearing 
animal  of  Alaska,  notwithstanding  the  hundreds  of  thousands  that 
have  alr<>ady  been  taken.  Trappers  are  always  confident  of  a  hai'vest 
of  martens  whether  other  animals  are  abundant  or  not. 

Mustela  pennanti  Erxleben.     Fisher. 

Dr.  KUiott  Cones  ^  states  that  he  has  examined  specimens  of  the 
fisher  from  Alaska,  but  does  not  give  the  exact  locality.  At  present 
no  specimens  are  at  hand  to  corroborate  this  record,  but  there  is  little 
doubt  that  the  animal  occurs  along  the  Upper  Yukon,  as  it  is  known 
from  similar  latitudes  to  the  eastward.  It  was  not  met  with  by  our 
pa)"ty,  and  I  received  no  reliable  information  in  regard  to  it. 

Oulo  luBCUs  (Linnieus).     Wolverine. 

Wolverines  seem  to  be  quite  common  in  the  Yukon  region.  They 
were  often  reported,  and  I  saw  )i  number  of  skins  among  thcs  natives 
on  the  lower  river.  One  was  .said  to  have  been  trapped  at  Tagish  in 
the  winter  of  18)KS.  and  others  were  seen  in  the  vicinity.  They  are 
seen  frequently  about  Lake  Lebarge  in  winter,  and  trappers  from  the 
MacMillan  River  say  they  are  abiuidant  in  that  region. 

Sorex  personatus  streatori  Merriam.     Streator  Shrew. 

Specimens  of  this  shrew  were  secured  as  follows:  Haines  1,  Skag- 
way  «'),  Glacier  I,  Bennett  3,  Caribou  Crossing  2,  Lake  Lel)arge  1,  50 
miles  l)elow  Fort  Selkirk  1,  mouth  of  Chandindu  River  I,  and  40  miles 
above  Circle  1.  Although  the  conditions  along  the  Yukon  seem  to  be 
.ideal  for  shrews,  I  was  unable  to  secui'e  many  specinu>ns.  and  could 
only  conclude  that  they  wei-e  not  common  there,  for  the  same  nu'thodi) 
of  trapi)ing  were  nmch  more  successful  in  the  coast  n'gions. 

Sores  personatus  aroticus  Merriam.     Arctic;  Shrew. 

Sttrex  yn-mwilux  iirrliriin  Alfrrittiii,  I'roc.  VVai<li.  Aca<l.  Sci.,  11, 17,  Mar.  14,  liKK). 

Twenty  specimens  were  taken  at  St.  Michael.  They  occur  through- 
out the  tuiulia  in  nnich  the  same  situations  as  S.  fiindrfUK/'x,  but  were 
also  found  in  the  lava  heaps  and  along  high  banks  near  the  coast. 

'No.  41)34,  Mcrriani  collccticni,  fr.iin  tht-  AdiroiidwkH,  New  York. 
Fiir-lK'uriiig  AiiiiiiulH,  til),  1877. 


T^ 


North  An.encan  Fauna,  No.  19. 


Plate  VII. 


i 


m 


Skulls  OF  Mustela.    (Xiitumisizo.) 

1.  Miitlelti  nmriimiiii  III  uiKdIiK.  2.  Muiililanmnicitiiaactui>i"i. 


:i.  Min'lilii  (iiiir-icana. 


K^     ( 


II 


I! 


■n:i 


OCT.,1000.] 


MAMMALS    OF   THE    YUKON    KKOION. 


45 


Im 


Sorex  obscuras  Merriam.     Mountniti  Shro.w. 

Two  speciiiiens  were  caught  under  tufbi  of  gi'uss  on  ii  rocky  liillside 
at  Bennett.  This  locality  i.s  nuich  farthc^r  north  than  any  from  which 
this  .species  has  been  previously  recorded. 

Sorex  tondrensis  Merriam.     Tundra  Shrew. 

Sonx  tundrengiit  Merriam.     I'roc.  Wiwh.  Acad.  Sci.,  II,  1(1-17,  Man'h  14,  liKH). 

Eighteen  .specimens  of  this  pretty  shrew  were  taken  at  St.  Michael. 
They  were  found  in  various  parts  of  the  tundra,  but  seemed  to  l)e  in 
small  localized  colonies.  About  cei'tain  small  ponds  nearly  all  the 
shrews  caught  were  of  this  sp<3cies,  while  but  a  shoit  distance  away  all 
were  arctiom.  A  single  imperfect  specimen  collected  by  Kennicott 
near  Fort  Yukon  is  in  the  National  Museum.  In  size  it  does  notdiffiu- 
from  typical  tii/idrcnu/'n,  but  in  color  it  is  somewhat  darker,  thus 
indicating  a  possible  intergmdation  with  rlrhdnl'iani. 

Hyotis  lucifugus  (Le  Conte).     Little  Hrown  Hat. 

Bats  were  first  seen  at  Caribou  Crossing,  and  from  that  point  were 
oc<;asionally  noticed  at  various  places  to  our  camp,  50  miles  l)elow 
Fort  Selkirk,  where  they  were  last  seen.  Turner  mentions  their 
reported  occurrence  as  far  down  as  Fort  Yukon  and  Nulato.  In  June 
and  July  wo  generally  found  them  flying  from  10  to  11.80  p.  m. .  and 
sometimes  even  later.  Two  specimens  only  were  secured.  These  are 
somewhat  grayer  and  less  glossy  than  specimens  from  the  eastern 
United  States. 


I  r  i 


n»^ 


■f-: 


r" 


\U 


BIRDS  OF  THE  YUKON  EEOION,  WITH  NOTES  ON  OTHER 

SPECIES. 

By  Louis  B.  Bishop,  M.  D. 
INTRODUCTION. 

In  propiiring  tho  ornithological  part  of  this  report  I  have  thought 
it  advisable  to  note  as  far  as  possil)le  all  species  met  with  from  the 
time  we  passed  Dixon  F^ntranco,  northward  bound,  May  28,  until  we 
reached  Cape  Scott  on  the  return  trip,  October  12,  for  the  reason  tliat 
articles  on  Alaska  birds  are  not  yet  so  numerous  as  tomake  such  notes 
worthless.  It  was  of  course  impossible  to  obtain  specimens  of  water- 
fowl seen  from  the  decks  of  steamers;  therefore  when  specific  identifi- 
cation was  not  positive  I  have  referred  genera  seen  to  tho  .species 
which  previous  observers — especially  E.  W.  Nelson  and  William 
Palmer — have  found  most  couunon  in  the  waters  visited. 

Nowhere  did  we  see  the  vast  colonies  of  water  birds  which  others 
have  met  with  in  Alaskan  waters,  probably  because  most  of  these 
birds  had  loft  their  summor  homos  in  Bering  Sea  when  we  passed  in 
October;  but  various  migrants  were  comnion  in  the  Inside  Pasjsago  in 
May,  geese  and  ducks  on  the  Lower  Yukon  in  August,  and  waterf  j>v1 
of  many  species  in  Akutan  Pass  in  October. 

The  region  from  Skagway,  at  the  head  of  Lynn  Ca»ial.  to  Circle,  on 
the  Yukon,  was  the  scene  of  most  of  our  work;  and  as  very  little  was 
known  of  it  ornithologically  I  have  mentioned  in  my  annotiited  list 
ever}'  occasion  of  our  observation  of  all  except  the  (;cinmonest  .specie^.. 
Ornithologist*;,  in  refening  to  the  Copper  Yukon,  include,  as  a  rule, 
only  that  part  of  tho  river  which  lies  between  Dawso'.i  and  Nulato; 
hen(!0  tho  avifauna  of  its  head  waters  was  with  us  largely  a  matter  of 
conjoctun*.  George  G.  Cantwell '  mentions  species  he  .saw  about  the 
lakes;  but  his  experience  was  hi  man\'  ways  so  different  from  ours  that, 
while  crediting  him  with  the  first  records  for  species  which  wo  also 
found,  I  have  omitted  others  which  we  did  not  find  and  for  which  he 
may  have  mistaken  closelj'  allied  birds. 

The  country  we  traversed  between  Skagway  and  Circle  divides  itself 
into  three  quite  distinct  faunal  districts.  Tho  coast  of  Southeast 
Alaska  belongs  to  the  "Sitkan  district'  of  Nelson,  White  Pass  Summit 


I 

•  il 


!!   ({ 


Ih 


t   '    I 


'Birds  of  the  Yukon  Trail  <Osprey,  111,  25,  Oct.,  1898. 


47 


f 


)  i 


fi 


'  M 


1 


i 


i   M 


1 


f.  i. 


48 


NORTH    AMKKICAN    FAl'NA. 


[NO.  19. 


and  the  hcijjht.'^  iilxnc  (Hiicicr  hcloiij^  to  tlio  An'tic-Alpino  zone,  and 
th»'  Yukon  Valley  l»('l<)ii{(.s  to  the  Canadian  and  Huddonian  zones.  In 
tho  lust  th»^  Canadian  ciciiUMit  is  most  pronounced  in  the  lake  rejjion, 
with  a  very  slij^ht  infusion  of  Sitkan  forms,  the  strictly  Hudson ian 
species  .(crcasinj(  and  the  others  d»M'i"easinfr  as  the  Yukon  winds  north 
toward  Foit  Yukon.  Beyond  this  point  Iludsonian  forms  predomi- 
nate, ffivinj;  place  to  Arctic  where  the  Yukon  lo.ses  its  identity  in  the 
tundra  of  the  delta,  'fhe  Upper  Yukon  Valley  may  l)e  divided  faun- 
ally  at  Fort  Selkirk,  where  the  Pelly  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
the  Lewes  fron>  the  Coast  Range  unite  to  form  the  Yukon  proper,  15 
species  of  land  and  shore  birds  occurring  above  this  point  which  have 
not  been  found  l)etwcen  there  and  F(rt't  Yukon,  and  12  having  been 
recorded  between  the  Pelly  and  Fort  Yukon  which  have  not  been 
taki'n  above.  Of  the  128  specie.>5and  sul)species  found  between  Dixon 
Entrance  and  Fort  Yukon,  22  per  cent  were  common  to  the  coast  of 
southeast  Alaska  and  the  Yukon  Valley,  lit  per  cent  confined  to  the 
cotust,  '),')  j)er  cent  to  the  Yukon  Valley,  and  -i  per  cent  found  only  on 
White  Pass  Summit  and  at  similar  altitudes. 

The  avifauna  of  southeastern  Alaska  is  already  fairly  well  known, 
and  the  twelve  days  spent  at  Haines,  Skagway,  and  Glacier  resulted 
chiefly  \r  extending  the  ranges  of  a  few  species,  though  the  barn 
swallow  proved  to  b«>  tlie  subspecies  recently  reinstiited  by  Mr.  Palmer, 
the  myrtle  warbler  that  lately  described  by  Mr.  McGregor,  and  the 
wood  pewee  an  unrecognized  form.  Of  the  52  species  found  between 
Dixon  Entrance  and  Glacier,  2 — Cofajttcs  auratns  luteiui  and  Jferula 
vil(ji'(itorl(t — were  eastern,  8  Alaskan,  25  Pacific  coast,  and  17  common 
to  northern  North  Amei'ica.  At  Haines,  which  is  situated  on  a  nar- 
row aid  for  the  most  part  heavily  wooded  peninsula,  birds,  although 
not  common,  were  more  numerous  than  they  were  either  at  Skag- 
way,  which  is  in  a  narrow  clifi'-bordered  valley  at  the  head  of  Lynn 
Canal,  or  at  (t lacier,  14  miles  from  Skagway,  1,870  feet  higher,  and 
surrouiide<l  ))y  decj)  spruce  woods  and  alder  thickets.  We  found  in 
the  avifauna  of  (iilacicr  a  slight  but  decided  difference  from  that  of 
the  tide-wat(U'  level  of  Lynn  Canal,  Junco  liyemalifi  connecteihH  replac- 
ing J.  h.  invfjonwi,  and  Wihonla  pufiUla 2)il<'olatci  replacing  Jlehmntlw- 
2>hU(i  cehtta  lHte^'<cenx,  while  Mdo»plza  melodia  rufina  and  Menda 
iii'xjrdtorld    were  absent. 

Among  the  thickets  of  alpine  hemlock  growing  with  moss  and 
heather  between  the  granite  rocks  of  White  Pass  Summit  and  the 
heights  above  Glacier  we  found  Zonotrlchia  coronata  and  Anthus 
pennilvanicms  coumion,  and  Tjujupuii  rupestrls,  L.  leucurus,  Letwosticte 
ti'phrocotis  Kttoralis  and  Snyomw  tiaya  ynkaneims  in  smaller  numbers'. 
SayorniH  s.  yukancusLs  reat'hed  the  Y'ukon  level  at  Fort  Selkirk,  and 
Anthi/H  jjenmlvanicit.'t  at  Circle,  but  the  others  were  not  seen  again. 

To  one  accustomed  to  the  orchards,  fields,  and  forests  of  Connecti- 


i 


-y 


I 


(NO.  19. 


0(T.,1<J(KI.1 


INTKODIK'TION. 


49 


I 


i 


i-i: 

I 


cut,  the  (lii«'k  nmrslics  of  Nortli  Diikotu.  or  even  th»'  ImiIsiuii  thickets 
of  nortlicni  N(^\v  Kri^laiid,  the  Yukon  Viilh\v  .scciii.s  wiintiu^'  in  '>ir(l 
life — iKtt  the  center  of  !il)uudiince  of  its  avifiiunii,  but  rather  a  (le|)o.sit 
for  the  overflow  from  more  favored  re^fion.s.  Tlu're  are  exceptions  to 
this  rule,  notably  wandei'iiijj  flocks  of  crossbills,  the  colonics  of  bank 
swallows  of  Fifty-Mil(^  and  Thirty-Mile  rivers  and  the  Yukon  propiT, 
the  spotted  sandpipers  that  contirnialiy  Hitted  across  our  Ijow,  the 
intermediate  sparrows  and  juncos  that  seldom  failed  to  <,'reet  us  as  wo 
stepped  ashore,  and  the  Alma  thrushes,  whose  sonjfs  sounded  all  night, 
wherever  we  happened  to  camp.  Bird  life  is  fairly  abundant,  too,  in 
certjiin  favored  places  such  as  Loj;  Cabin,  Caribou  Crossinjif.  the 
swampy  shores  of  Lake  Marsh,  and  the  ponds  and  level  country  at 
the  lower  end  of  Lake  Lebarge.  Near  Miles  Canyon  I  noticed  23 
species  on  July  11,  Imt  individuals  of  each,  with  the  exception  of  l)aiik 
swallows,  were  few.  In  the  entire  Upper  Yukon  Valley  l)reeding 
colonies  of  shore  and  water  birds  were  conspicuously  ab.sent.  The 
precipitous  shores  of  the  lakes,  the  conipanitive  absences  of  islands,  the 
swift  current  of  the  Yukon,  and  its  liigh  banks  cut  l)v  narrow,  wooded 
valley's,  are  a  sufficient  explaiitition  of  this;  and  I  can  not  believe  that 
either  geese,  ducks,  or  shore  l»irds  ever  bred  abundantly  in  most  of 
the  region  visited,  though  their  luunber  has  doubtle.ss  been  reduced  in 
recent  years. 

In  the  Yukon  flats  the  condition  changes,  and  no  doiil)t  many  of 
these  birds  tind  a  summer  home  in  the  ponds  a  few  miles  back  from 
the  river,  as  they  do  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Lebarge;  but  these  we  had 
no  opportunity  of  visiting.  Our  stud}'  of  the  bird  life  of  the  Yukon 
was  chiefly  confined  to  what  could  be  seen  or  heard  from  our  lioat  or 
on  the  banks  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  camping  places.  From  the 
lakes  to  the  Alaska  boundary  snow-capped  peaks  were  absent,  and 
no  species  were  found  that  did  not  also  occur  upon  th(>  l»anks  of  the 
river,  although  we  c  limbed  hills,  visited  deep  woods,  and  asceuded 
small  streams  for  sonu;  distance.  As  we  proceeded  north,  howe\  er, 
several  birds  were  found  at  lower  altitudes  than  those  at  whicli  they 
had  been  alri'ady  noted.  Away  from  the  river,  birds  were  rarer  than 
immediately  upon  its  banks. 

We  learned  little  regarding  the  Upper  Yukon  as  a  migratory  high- 
way for  species  breeding  farther  noi'tli,  though  wc  heard  that  thou- 
sands of  geese  and  ducks  pas.sed  Lower  Lebarge  in  the  spring.  It  was 
too  late  for  the  spring  migration,  and  the  southward  movement  of 
ducks  and  geese  had  hardly  begun  on  August  20,  when  we  left  Circle. 
The  fall  migration  of  the  Limicohv  should  have  been  well  under  way 
at  this  date,  but  very  few  of  these  birds  were  observed.  If  they 
do  pass  in  large  numbers  they  nuist  fretiuent  the  ponds  back  from 
the  river,  iseveral  times  at  Circle,  I  walked  a  long  distance  over 
the  sand  flats  left  bare  bj'  the  falling  Y'ukon  without  seeing  any 
4494— No.  H) 4 


fi'M 


!     >l 


HMMMi 


50 


NORTH     \MKK10AN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


i'  i'    ' 


I'         < 


i 


shore  l)ir(ls,  or  anything  on  which  they  could  fcod.  Th's  was  very 
ditl'erent  from  tLc  constantly  pa.s.sing  flocks  I  .saw  on  the  Yiikoji  Dcltii 
August  27-28,  and  the  abundance  of  Liniicola?  at  St.  Michael  in  Sep- 
tember. The  smaller  land  birds  we  often  saw  late  in  July  and  in 
August.  They  wei"e  usually  in  family  parties,  and  most  of  them 
seemed  to  be  travelinj;'  up  the  river.  At  Circle  the  intonuediate 
sparrow,  western  trco  sparrow,  and  western  savanna  sparrow  were 
abundant,  and  were  evidently  migrating  August  19-20. 

Forty-two  species  of  migi'atory  l)irds,  exclusive  of  those  possessing 
a  coutinentiil  range,  cortiiinly  occur  as  summer  residents  in  the  Yukon 
Basin  above  Fort  Yukon.  Of  these,  13  (31  percent)  have  their  center 
of  distribution  in  eastern  North  America,  i-i  (33  per  cent)  near  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  15  (36  per  cent)  in  west';  t  North  America  not  far 
from  the  Rocicy  Mountains.  The  eastern  birds  reach  the  Yukon 
through  the  Koclf  Mountains.  Some  of  these,  such  as  CJiord('ll<;.H 
virgi'niaium^  were  lOund  only  al)ove  the  Tatchun  Uiver;  others,  as 
Emjthl^max  t.  alnoruin,  were  absent  above  the  l\'Iiy  and  common 
from  there  to  Fort  Yukon;  others,  as  Wi/w?!^/.  pit-'<!//(r,  were  not 
found  above  the  Chaiuiindu  River;  others,  as  ni'lminihopliihi  jwre- 
grr7i(/,  woni  eacli  foiuul  at  a  single  place,  while  still  others,  as  ^/'/^/i^o 
hycmolis  and  Mernla  mu^ratorhi^  were  rc^gubirly  distributcnl  along  the 
river.  The  Pacific  coast  forms  pro])iibly  all  reach  (he  Yukon  over 
the  Alaska  coast  range.  These  disjippear  as  one  goes  north,  Ihjlo- 
cichlu  iinnalanchkiv  extending  through  Lake  l?enn<>tt,  W/'/sD/t./'a  2>-  pU'^o- 
lata  t^)  Lake  Marsh,  Ih^nlroica  tounusendl  to  Lake  L(;bargc,  Mijadestcs 
tmnnMend)  to  Dawson,  !».nd  Tachycliu la  t}i<:'(h'"'v,i(i  to  Circle.  Last 
and  most  important  ii  numl)er  of  species,  abundance  oi"  individuals, 
and  regularitv  of  distribution  are  birds  which  breed  In  the  Yukon 
Valley  and  spend  the  winter  in  the  w.  st«M'n  United  St{lt<^s.  as  Z»nu>- 
trichiii  J.  i/niiJ>':ll,  Splri'ild.  s.  urizoHfv.  and  the  small  Ahiiii(i<fram''xs  k. 
al<m(i//)i>is  of  the  Y'^ukon  lakes,  and  those  wiiich  probably  enter  by 
the  mouth  of  the  Yukor»,  as  the  large  AinvKxlrditittK  v.  ahmdiinw^ 
found  below  Alaska  boundary,  si-'d  SeinruH  n.  notahilU;  tirst  met  near 
P   ,vson. 

In  coloring,  Yukon  birds,  especially  in  juvenile  plumage,  show  a 
strong  tendency  to  rephuse  the  bulf-ochraceous  markings  of  Eastern 
forms  by  white,  cream  color,  and  gray.  (Jdri'ichUeH  c.  otKjMxl/',  J'iirif-s  h. 
t-^"//vf,  and  ITyloeU-hUi  it.  (ilnnmw^  ^T*  '^1  exampltvs  of  this  characteristic. 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  exi)res«  my  hejirly  tluinks  to  [>i'.  Merrium 
for  the  privilege  of  visiting  Alaska  as  a  member  of  the  Uiological  Sur- 
vey party,  of  writing  this  re])ort,  and  of  using  the  collection  of  tho 
niological  Survey  in  its  preparation;  al.-o  to  Mr.  Osgood  and  Mr. 
Oherholser  of  the  Riological  Survey  foi'  aid  in  determining  species. 
I  iiui  also  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  and  Dr.  Charles 
W.  Richmond  for  the  oj)portunity  of  studying  the  collection  of  the 


k 


S-0.19. 


OCT.,  1900.] 


CLASSIKIKI)    LISTS    OF    SPECIES. 


51 


vovy 
Doltii 

Sop- 
nd  in 

theiu 
odiate 

were 

ossing 
Yukon 
oonter 
ill'  the 
not  far 
Yukon 

lers.  as 
•oinnion 
ere  not 

1((.  jirre- 

IS  JldlCO 

\ow^  the 
:on  over 
|h,  Ihjlo- 
2>.  pil'O- 

lo.  Last 
lividuals. 
10  Yukon 

as  ?j>n<>- 
Iraimui  «. 

0 titer  by 
i/(t(t(/ljnui, 
t  mot  near 

■0,  show  a 
>i'  EastovM 
'i,  Farm  h. 
ractiM'istic. 
r.  Merriam 
ogical  Siir- 
•tion  of  tho 
id  and  Mr. 
ti^  upecios. 
Dr.  (Miarlcs 
tion  of  the 


United  States  N;i<'io''al  Mutseum  and  for  much  vahiable  assistanee;  to 
Dr.  J.  A .  Allen  and  Mr.  F.  M.  Chapman  for  the  hours  which  I  spent 
with  the  birds  in  tho  American  Museum  of  Natural  History;  to  Mr. 
William  Brewster  foi-  tli(^  courtesy  of  allowing'  n)e  to  compare  my 
specimens  with  those  in  his  valuable  collection,  and  to  Mr.  Walter 
Deane  for  much  help  in  this  study. 

CLASSIFIED  LISTS  OF  SPECIES. 

NKW   .SUBSPECIE.-. 

Canadiites  mnmleiiHis  owgoodi.  Contopiw  richarilsoni  saturatus. 

Sayoniis  Huya  yuk('in;iisin.     . 

^S^'I•X•IE-S   NOT  niTHEUTO   UECORDEO   FROM   WESTERN    NORTH    AMERICA. 

Haliajotus  olbicilla. 

f-i'ECIK.S   NOT   IIITIIEUTO    KECORDEI)    FROM    SOUTHE ASTERN    ALASKA. 


^I'k'hnii^ihoriw  (uviilcnlalis. 

Xemasabinii. 

Lagopus  letvuniH. 

PicoideH  aiiu'rifainif  alaseensis. 

Contopus  richarilHoni  Katnratus. 


Enipidoiiax  Iiaininondi. 
JuiK-o  liyomaliH  ooiiiK'utens. 
Sitta  oanadeiisiK. 
Merula  niignitciria. 


MPECIEH    NOT    IIITIIERIY)    RlCCOKUEl)    KHO.M    UNALASKA. 


r.jiniH  pliiladcljiliia. 
Tringa  nu'culata. 


Triiiaa  acuminata. 
Loxia  curviroHtra  i-.inor. 


SPECIES    NOT    lIlTlIKimj    KECORUEI)    FROM    THE    I'RnilLOF    ISLANDS. 


I>aru8  pliiladolphia. 
Triiiua  innmdiuita. 


?  Arenaria  molanocephala. 


SPECIES    Nor    IIITIIFKTO    HECORUHI)    FROM    ST.   VICIIAEL. 

('alii I. IS  aiviiaria. 

SPECIES    NOT    lIlTIIEIiTO    KKCORDEl)    FUO.M     THE    YCKON    MIOVK    FORT   YUKON. 


Trinira  liairdi. 

Symplu'iiiia si'inipalmata  inornata. 

Bntco  borcalis  calurns. 

Kaico  s))arvt'rins. 

?  Mi'j,'ascops  asio  kciinicolli. 

V  !)ry(iliat('s  villosiis  liylos;c'o[His. 

Contopns  liorcaiis. 

C<)nto]itis  ricliardsoni  saturatua 

iMiipidimax  traiili  alnoviim. 

I'lni|iid(iiui\  lianiiiiiiiidi. 


Spimis  piiius. 
Si)i7,i'lia  socialis  arlzoiup. 
ra.«si'rt'lla  iliaca. 
Ilcliniiitliophiia  pcrcgriiia. 
I)i'iidroi('a  towiisciidi. 
Wilsoiiia  pusilla  pilcolata. 
Sitta  caiindeiisis. 
Hylociclda  aoiialusdika'. 
llylociclila  aoiiala.><i'lika'  pallasi. 
Saxicola  (I'luuitlu'. 


l.ISr  OF   SPECIES    KNOWN    FROM    THE   YCKON    IIASIN, 


ColyiiiliHH  )i()lb(plli. 
folvMiliiis  anrittiH. 
(iavia  iinlicr. 
(iavia  arc'tica. 


Gavia  lunHtit'. 
Stcrconirins  )ioiiiariiHis.' 
Stcrcorarins  p"-.'"iti('us.' 
Stcrcorai'itis  loiigicauduH.' 


ll^ll 


^      I 


'  Known  only  from  I'dii  Yukon  or  below. 


52 


NORTH    AMKUICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


V     ^ 


'! 


m 


•4'^ 


RissH  tridactyla  jHiUir^iri.'j.' 

Larus  barrovianuH.' 

Larua  argentatuw  sinithHonianus. 

Larus  vegic' 

Larus  bracliyrliyiK-hua. 

Lams  philiuk'lpliia. 

Xenia  sahinii.' 

Sterna  I'a^ipia.' 

Sterna  panuliwi'a. 

Sterna  aleutica.' 

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis.' 

Phalacroconix  pelajficu.s  njhustus.' 

Merganser  aaiericannH. 

Merganser  serrator.' 

Anas  hoselias. 

Mareni  aniericana. 

Nettion  carnlinensis. 

Querquedula  discors.' 

Snatula  dyjjeata. 

Dafila  acuta. 

Aythya  vallisneria.' 

Aytliya  niarila. 

Aythya  aflinis. 

Clangnla  clangula  aniericana. 

Clangula  island  tea. 

Charitonetta  albeola. 

Harelda  hyenialis. 

HistrionicuH  histrioniouH. 

Arctonetta  fiseheri.' 

Soniateria  v-iiigra.' 

Soniateriu  mH'ctahilis.' 

Oidemia  aniericana.' 

Oideniia  dcglaiidi. 

Oideinia  pers|)icillata. 

Chen  hyperlwirea. ' 

Anser  albifrons  ganilK'li.' 

Uranta  eaiiadenniiJ  Imtchinsi. 

Branta  <'aiuiilenHiH  nuniina. 

lirantu  nigricans.' 

Pbila<;te  canagi<'a. ' 

Olor  colniiihianns.' 

Olor  buccinator." 

GruH  caniulensiM. 

Fulica  aniericana.' 

CryniDphiJus  fiiiicarius.' 

I'lialarnj)UM  loiiatuw. 

Gallinago  delicr.ta. 

MacrorhaniphuH  seolopaeuUH.' 

Tringa  canntut.' 

Tringa  cuiicHi.' 

Tringa  inaculata. 


Tringa  bairdi. 

Tringa  ininntilla. 

Tringa  atpina  ])aci)ica. 

Krennetus  ocddentnliH.' 

Cali'lris  arenaria.' 

Liniosa  lapjxiniea  baneri.' 

Liniowi  hicniiusfica.' 

Tiitanus  flavipe.^. 

Helodroniiw  solitariuH  ciniiainonienH. 

Heteractitis  incanui-i.' 

Bartranda  longicauda. ' 

Synipbenda  .^endpahnata  inornata.' 

Tryngites  snbndic<illis  ' 

Actitis  niacularia. 

NuineniuH  hudsonidis. 

Nunieraus  borealis.' 

Squatarola  s(piatar<)ia. 

Chanidrius  doininicus. 

Clianidrii's  (londnieus  fulv<is.' 

^Kgialitis  sendpahnata. 

Anuiaria  interpres.' 

Arenaria  nielanoeepiiala.' 

Canachites  canaden.wjs  nsgcx* ",. 

Bonasii  ninliellus  undxsl)'''  .es. 

LagopUM  lagojius. 

]..ag()puH  rupestris. 

Pedid'cetes  pbasianellus  colunibianuH.' 

Circus  hudsoniiis. 

Accii)iter  velox. 

Accipiter  atricapillu:', 

Buteo  boreahs  calurus.'' 

Buteo  svvains.ini.' 

Arcbibnteii  lagi>))nH.' 

Haliicetns  lencoccpbalus  aias<-aiius. 

Falco  rustico'.UH  gyrfaicd. 

Falcu  percgriniis  anatnni. 

Falco  coiiii)d)arins. 

Falco  colund)arius  ricliardiioid.' 

Falco  sparveriuH.'^ 

Fandion  lialiaetns  carolineuHis.' 

.Xsio  accipitrinns.' 

Scotiaplcx  cinerea. 

Scotiaptex  cinerea  lapponica.' 

Nyi'lala  tengniaind  ricbanlMini. 

VMcgawops  iu«io  konnicotti.' 

liulio  virgiidanuH  ])alleseens. 

.Nyctca  nyclca.' 

Snrnia  ulnla  caparocli. 

( 'I'ryle  alcyon. 

{•ryobates  villosns  leucoinelas. 

?I)ryol)ate.s  vUlosus  liyloscopus.' 


i 


'  Known  oidy  from  Fort  Yukon  or  below. 
'Known  onlv  alMivc  Fort  Yukon, 


m 


[NO.  19. 


OCT.,19U0.j 


CLAS9IFIKD   LISTS   OF   SPECIES. 


m 


DryobatcH  piilwwiens  iielwmi. 

l'ic()i<U'H  arctit'iiH. 

Pic'oidt'H  aiii(>ricaimH  aluHceiiHiKi. 

Colaptes  auratuH  liiteus. 

Chordeiles  virgiiiianiiH.' 

Selasphonis  riifus.'' 

Sayornis  eaya  ynkoneiiRiH.' 

Coutopua  Iwrealin. 

Contopua  ridiardsoiii  witiiratns.'^ 

LiTipidonax  fruilli.' 

Empidonax  trailli  alnoniip.'^ 

Empidonax  haimnoiidi.'' 

Otoeoris  alpestria  leucolfniiia. 

Pica  i)ica  budsonica. 

PeriHoreus  canadciiHis  fuiiiifrons. 

Corvus  corax  principalis. 

ScolecopbagUH  carol  i  mis. 

Pinicola  eimclcator  alascenHiH. 

Pyrrbula  ca8.«ini.' 

lA)xia  leucoptcra. 

Arantbia  borneinaniii  oxilipes. 

AcAiitbis  linariu. 

Spinus  pinus.' 

Pa^isorina  nivaliw. 

Calcarius  lapponicnw  ala»<>;cnHiH. 

C'alcariuH  pictiiH.' 

Am  mod  ram  U8  Handwicliensia  alaudinn.s. 

Zonotricbia  loucopbrys  gambeli. 

Zonotricbia  coronata. 

Spizella  mouticola  ocbnicca. 

Spizolla  Hocialis  arizona;.'' 

Jnnco  byemalis. 

Molospiza  lincoliii. 

PasHorella  iliaca. 

Petroclu'lidoii  Innifrona. 


Ilirmido  erytbrogastra  unaliwc^bki'iiHiH. 

Tacbyciiii'ta  Incoiiir. 

Tacbycincta  tbalassina.' 

Clivicola  riparia. 

Ampi'lis  garrulus. 

Laiiiiis  borcalis. 

llelmintbopbila  celata. 

IK'lmintbopbila  pciregrina.' 

Deiidroica  a'stiva  ruljiginoHa. 

Deiidroica  coronata  hooveri.  , 

Dcndroica  striata. 

Dcndroica  townsendi." 

Seinrns  aurocapilliis.' 

SeiiiruH  novetjoracenHis  notainlis. 

Wilnonia  pusilla. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata.''' 

Biidytes  flavus  leucostriatiis.' 

AntbuH  pensilvanicus. 

Cinclns  mcxicanus, 

Sitta  canadensin.^ 

Panis  atricapilbw  sopteiitrionalis. 

ParuH  (tiiictiiH  aliiscensis.' 

Parus  budsonicuH  ev»ira. 

PbyllopseuHtew  Vwrealis.' 

RcguliiH  calendula. 

^lyadcHtcH  townsendi.'' 

Hylocicbla  aliciic. 

Ilylocicbla  ustiilata  almro. 

Hylocicbla  aonahwcbka'." 

Ilylocicbla  aonalaechka'  pallasi.' 

Meriila  niigratoria. 

Hcspcrocicbla  iia;via. 

Saxicola  iiinantbe. 

Sialia  arctica." 


SPECIES   WIIOSH  OCCrKHKNCK  O.N   TMIC    YUKON    IS   douhtfdl. 


Cbaulelasmns  Btrepisrus. 
Eniconctta  stcllcri. 
Rranta,  canadcnHiw. 
MacrorbampbuH  griseim. 


Aqnila  cbrysaetcs. 
Nncifraga  colnmbiaiia. 
Loxia  cun'irostni  minor. 
Motacilla  ocularis. 


'  Known  only  from  Fort  Yukon  or  bdow. 
'■'Known  iinly  uhoyc  Fort  Yukon. 


54 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  lit. 


BPBCIE8    AMD   SUBSPECIES   OCCrRRIXCl    IN   TIIK    YUKON    I1A8IN    AND    HAVING    THEIR   CENTER 
OF   AnUNDANCE    DURING    TIIK    IIKKRDINli    .SEASON    IN    ALASKA    AND    IIEKINd    SEA. 


i  i  ! 


'11 


Rissa  tridactyla  pollicaris.' 

LaruH  barrovianus. ' 

Larua  vega).' 

Larus  brachyrhynchus. 

Sterna  aleutica.' 

Phalat^roconix  pelajricns  rulmstns.' 

Arctonctta  flscheri.' 

Soinateria  v-nigm.' 

Chen  liyperl)orea.'^ 

Bi-anta  (canadensis  minima. 

Branta  nigricans.  ^ 

Philacte  canagica. ' 

Gms  canadensis.'' 

MatTorhaiiipns  scoloiMVceus. 

Tringa  couesi." 

Ereunetes  occidentalis. 

Heteractitis  incanus. 

Arenaria  melanoeephala. 

Of  these  35  forms,  1  is  a  su1)spooies  of  iiii  Asiatics  bird,  5  are  cliicfly 
confined  to  Bering  Sea,  2  range  in  winter  to  the  western  Pacific,  7 
are  resident  sultspecies  of  northern  North  American  l)irds.  and  the 
remaining  20  pass  in  Avinter  to  the  western  United  States  or  ])cvond. 

EAHTEHN   NORTH    AMKKICAN   BPKCIKS  FOUND   IN  THE   YUKON    IIASIN. 


Canaciiites  canadensis  osgoodi. 
Ilaliii'ctns  leucocophalus  alascanas. 
?  Megii,«('(H)s  iLsio  kennii'otti. 
Ticoidcs  ainerieanns  alasccnsis. 
8ay(iriiis  saya  ynkonensis. 
CoiitoiuiH  ricliiu'dsoiii  saturatns. 
Perisorcus  canadcnsi.s  fuiiiifrons. 
Pinicola  onucleator  alaf-rciisis. 
Fioucosticte  tejihroeoti.s  littoralis. 
Calcariu.s  lapironicns  alas{'oii.«iH. 
Hirundo  orythrof.-,  itra  unalayclikensis. 
Deiulroica  a'stiva  rubigiiiosa. 
Dendroica  coronata  lioovuri. 
Panis  cinctiis  ala-^censis. 
Panis  budso'iifUH  evura. 
Hylocicbia  nstnlata  alma;. 
I  lesperociclila  mevia. 


Limosa  lucmastioa. 
Nunienius  iMtrcalis. 
Accipiter  atricapilliis. 
Falco  sparverius. 
Colaptos  auratus  Inteus. 
Cliordoiles  virginianiiH. 
Einpidonax  traiili  ainorum. 
Junco  hyeinalis. 
Paaserella  iliaca. 


Helmintbopliila  cclatii. 
Hehiiiiitliopbila  j>er(.'i{rlna. 
Dendroica  striata. 
Pcinrns  unro('ii|iilliiH. 
Wilsdiiia  pnsilla. 
Ilylixidila  alicia'. 
Hylocidila  aoiialaschka'  pallasi. 
Morula  iiiigratoria. 


Wf^TEUN    NORTH    A.MEKUAN    Sl'ECUIX    I''OUNl)    IN    THE    YUKCN    IIASIN. 


Anser  albifrons  gainl)eli. 

Branta  canadensis  hutehiusi. 

Olor  buccinator 

Symphcmia  scmipalmata  inornata. 

l$onasa  uinbcllus  umbciloidcH. 

Pedia'cetes  pluwiancllua  colunibiauus. 

Bnteo  borcalis  calurus. 

Buteo  swainsoni. 

Falco  colnmbarius  ricbardsoni. 

Bubo  virgiiiianuH  pallcscens. 

?L)ryobateH  villosuH  by]oHco|>iis. 

Picoidcs  amcricaiiMs  alasconsis. 

HelaspboruH  riifus. 

Kmpidonax  traiili. 


Kmi)i<lonax  baniviioiidi. 

Otocoris  alpcstris  Icucol.'ciiia. 

Pica  ]>ica  bu<ls(ini(;a. 

Calcarius  pictuH. 

.'VniiniMlnnnns  saudwicbciisi"  aland  inns. 

Zonotriclia  k'ucoplirys  gainhcli. 

Spi/.clla  inonticola ocliracea. 

Spi/.ella  soicialis  arizona'. 

HciiiruH  n<(vcl>(ira('cu,''is  iiotabilis. 

Ciiiclns  nicxiciiiuis. 

Parus  atriiapilluH  ."('ptciitrionalis. 

Myadcstt's  towii.'^ciidi. 

Sialia  arctic.i. 


'  Uei)orted  only  from  the  Yuko!i  Delta. 
''  Known  only  as  migraiit.«. 


[NO.l'J. 


'ENTEB 


OCT., 1900.]  (;LASail-"IKI)    LISTS    (>K    Sl'KCIKS. 

AMEKK'AN    IWCIl'IC    CO.^.ST    .Sl'KCI  KS    |-UtNI>    1  \    TllK    VfKO.N    H.\SI.N. 

Heiodroiiia.s  nolitariuH  ciiimuiiiniii-us.  lU'iulniicu  town.^i'iuli. 

Tachycinotii  tlialiis.«iiiu.  Wilsoniii  iiUMilla  pilculata. 

Zonotrifliia  coroiuita.  Ilvluciclila  aonalaschkii'. 


r)5 


!    :'l 


.\HI.Vnc    .\.VI)    PACIPIC    SI'KCIKS    KOf.NI)    IS    T1£K    YTKON    HA.SI.V. 


Limowi  lapponica  haiieri.' 
Chara<lrius  (loiiiiiiicuH  fiilvuiJ.' 
Ardiibuteo  hmojxis. 
iScotiaptex  cinorea  lapponica.' 


rvrrliula  ca.^uini. 

I'ludyti'H  llaviiH  loui'ostriatii.-'.' 

I'liyllopseiistcs  borealis.' 


ensiB. 


chiefly 
citic,  7 
lid  tho 
K'voncl. 


mdiuntj. 


MlailATOHY    srKCIIiS     .NOT    COMMON   To    .VOItTIIKltN     NORTH    AMEKIf.V     FOUND    KlTrilv/ 
UHEEDlNtl    HE.V.SON    IN   THE    VIKON    IIASIN    AliOVE    FOltT    YUKON. 


Eastern  xpecka. 


Accipiter  atricapillus. 
Falco  sparvuriuH. 
Colai)tes  anratiiH  lutoup. 
Cliordeik'H  viru'inianuH. 
Empidoiiu.^  trailli  alnoruni. 
Juiico  liyt'iiialiH. 
?  PaaseroUa  iliaca. 


Ilelminthophila  cclata. 
Ileliuintliopliila  pereptrina. 
Doiulroica  striata. 
\Vilw)iiia  |)usillii. 
Hyliick'lila  alicia'. 
llyloci('lilaaoiiala,«(^lika'  palia.«i. 
Mcrnla  iiiigratoria. 


Western  xpecieB. 


Branta  canadensw  hutrhin.'ii. 

?(JriiH  canacloiisi.s. 

8ynii)hciiiia  MMiiijialmata  iiiorimta. 

Buk'o  )>orL'ali.s  calurui^. 

?  Otoi'ori.H  alpi'stri.s  k'U('oln;iiia. 

Pica  pica  liiulsoiiica. 

?  Cak'ariuH  kipiioiiicUH  alasct'iiijis. 

AinniiKlraiiuiH  wimlwichonsis  alaiulimis. 

Zonotridiia  It'ucopliry.'i  ganibi'li. 

Falco  eoluiixbariuH  ricliardsoiii. 


Selaspboriis  ruitis. 
Sayoriiis  saya  yukonensic. 
Kiii|ii(k)nax  haiiiiiioiuli. 
Spi/.clki  moiiticoki  ocbracea. 
S|>izi'lla  Kocialin  arizuiin'. 
SciiiruH  novel  loracc'iis^ia  iiotabilin. 
AFyaik'stcH  tonnscuili. 
Ilylocicbla  ii-stuiata  ahiuu. 
Sialia  arcticti. 


I'lirilic  rotlnl  fpecies. 


LaruH  l)racbyrliynchnH. 

Ilclodroinas  ."ulitariuH  cinnanioHuniH. 

Ix'ucu.stictc  tcpkrocotiH  littoralis. 

Zoiiotrichia  coronata. 

Iliruiuk)  crythroga.-'tra  uiiaiasciikcii.uis. 

TachyciiU'ta  tkakl.'^^'ilm. 

('oiito))UH  ricliarilwiiii  satiiratiis. 


Dcndroica  a>Htiva  rubiginosa. 
Uciidroica  coroiiala  iiooveri. 
i'l'iidroica  townsi'iKli. 
\\'ilsoiiia  pusilla  pik'ohita. 
Ilylocicblii  aoiiaki,xcbka'. 
IlesiH-Toci' 'bia  iia'via. 


.S|>ECIE!S    OCtCKlUNd    ON    TIIK    lOAMT   OK    SOUTlIUA.^T    ALASKA   ANI>    IN    TllK   YUKON    VALLEY. 


(iavia  imlHT. 
LaruH  pbikidolpbia. 
.Aniw  lioM'tiiLx. 
Ilistriciiii<'iis  lii,><trioiiicuH. 
Ouluinia  (Ifgkiiiili. 


Oidciiiia  pi'i'Hi)icilkita. 

I'lialaropiiH  lobaiiiH. 

Actitis  iiiacidaria. 

llaliactus  k'uciici'pbahiH  alasuuiuH. 

l'k'oi(k'.'J  aincricaiuis  akiwensls. 


'  Known  only  from  tlic  Yukon  Kdta. 


56 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


ColaptoH  auratus  luteun. 
Sclaspborus  rufus. 
ContopuH  richardsoiii  saturatns. 
Enipidonax  hammondi. 
Sterna  paradisiin 
Corvua  corax  principalis. 
AinmodramuH  sandwic^liensis  alaudinus. 
Spizella  lUDUticola  ochracea. 
Hirunilo  erythrogastra  unalaschkensis. 


Tac;hyi'ini'ta  bicolor. 
Dendroica  coronata  lioovcri. 
Deudroica  townsendi. 
Wilsonia  (msilla  pileolata. 
AntlitiH  iwnsilvanicus. 
Sitta  canadenHiB. 
Hylocichla  aonalaschkm. 
Merula  niigratoria. 
HesiHjrooichla  ntevia. 


SPECIES   0«;UKKIN(i    ON    WlIirK    1'AH.S   SU.M.MIT    AND    IN   THE    Yl'KON    VALLEY. 


Sayornis  saya  yukonensis. 

Zonotrichia  coronata. 

?  Wilsonia  puwilla  pileolata. 


Anthus  i)en8ilvanicus. 

Hirundo  erythrogastra  unalaschkensis. 


SPECIES   KOUNU    BY    IIS   ONLY    ON    WHITE    PASS  .SITMMIT. 


,i 


r  I' 


|!f 


nil 


Lagopus  rupestris. 
Lagopus  leucurus. 


Zonotrichia  coronata. 
Leucosticte  tephrocotiH  littoralis. 


SPECIES    FOITND    BY    US   ONLY    ON   THE   COAST   OF   SOUTHEAST   ALASKA. 


?I)cn<lrngapus  ohscurus  fuliginosus. 

Spiiyrapicns  ruber. 

Cyanocitta  Htelleri. 

Corvns  caurinus. 

Junco  hycmaliH  oregonus. 

Junci)  hyemali.s  connt'cten.«. 

Mt'lospi/.a  melodia  rufina. 


Melospiza  lincobii  striata. 
PanHcrcUa  iliaca  townsendi. 
Hehnintiio])hila  cclata  hitesticns. 
Aiiorthiira  bienialis  j)acifiia. 
PaniH  rufcscens. 
llegulus  satrajKi  olivaceus. 
Regulus  cjilenduia  grinnelli. 


LAND    BIRDS    FOUND    IN    LYNN   CANAL    DISTItKT   ONLY    NEAR   TIDE    WATER. 


Contopus  ricbanlsnni  saturatus. 

SphyrapicuH  ruber. 

Cyanocitta  stcllcri. 

Corviis  caurinus. 

Spizella  inonticola  ochracea. 

Jiini'o  hyeniali.s  orcgonns. 

Melosi)iza  ini'lodia  rufiua. 


Mclospiza  lincoiiii  striata. 
Tiicbycineta  l)icolor. 
Ilclniiuthophiia  cclata  liit4.>scenH. 
AntluiH  pensilvanicuc. 
Sitta  canadensis. 
Merula  niigratoria. 


LAND   BIRDS    KOCND    IN    LYNN  CANAL    DISTRICT   ONLY    NEAR  THE    LEVEL   OF   OLACIER. 


Colaptes  auratus  liiteus, 
7Den<lragapus  ol)scurue  (uliginosus. 
Junci)  liyciiuili.s  connectens. 
Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata. 


CinduH  niexicainiH. 
Anortliunv  bietnalis  ]>a(^itiea. 
Regulua  satrapa  olivaceus. 


Sl'ECIES    RECORDED    KRO.M   THE    UPPER    YUKON    ONLY    ABOVE  THE    I'ELLY    RIVER, 


Tringa  minutilla. 

Symplicniia  sciiiipalmata  inornata. 

71Megasc()ps  asio  !;cnnicottL 

?Dryobatcs  villosns  byloscoims. 

Cbordcilcs  virginianus. 

SelasplioruH  rufus. 

Contopus  lM)realis. 

Ilirundo  erythrogastra  uiuilascbkcnsis. 


Tachyciiieta  bicolor. 
Ilclniinthophila  pcrcgriiui. 
Dendroica  townst>ndi. 
Wilfjonia  pusilla  pileolata. 
Ilyldcielila  aonalascbkic. 
[lylociclila  aonalauchka*  pallasi. 
Siulia  an-tica, 


mm 


[NO.  19. 


i).-r.,i900.] 


BIRDS   OF   THE    YUKON   RKOION. 


57 


censis. 


11. 


LACIER. 


IVEU. 


HPECIE8  RECORDED   FROM   TIIK    YUKON    VALLEY    HETWKK.N     KOKT    YI'KON    ANJ)  THE   I'KI.I.Y 

RIVER. 


Falco  peregrinua  tinatum. 
?Falt:o  colunilmrius. 
?  Falco  colunibarius  richardHoni. 
Einpidunax  trailli  aliioruin. 
Ototujris  alpe«triH  leiieola>ma. 
CalcariuH  hipixinicuH  alastiensis. 


AoantliiH  hornoiiianni  cxiliiJt'iJ. 

Panserella  iliaca. 

Soiurus  iioveboracciisis  iiutabiliH. 

AVilsonia  piisilla. 

Ilylociclila  alii'ia-. 

Saxicohi  d'nanthe. 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  SPECIES. 

1.  JEchmophoruB  occidentalis.     Western  Grebe. 

Several  ween  at  Bocadequadra,  near  Dixon  Kiitranee,  May  28. 

2.  Colymbus  holboelli.     Holboell  Grebe. 

A  young  male  was  taken  on  the  '  Canal '  at  St.  Michael  Septeni})er 
22.  The  irides  were  primrose  yellow;  basal  two-thirds  of  tlie  culinen, 
outside  tarsi,  and  lol)es,  seal  ]>rown;  rest  of  bill,  ocher  yellow;  inside 
of  the  tarsi  and  lobes,  maize  yellow;  nails,  yellowish  olive  1)utt'. 

3.  Oavia  imber.     Loon. 

Seen  at  Bocadequadra  May  28  and  in  the  Inside  Passage  Ma}-  '2\K 
Several  seen  on  Lake  Bennett  and  a  pair  at  Cari))oii  Crossing  between 
June  17  and  28.  On  Lake  Marsh  they  wei-e  fonimon  and  wore  fre- 
quently heard,  especially  at  night.  The  last  loon  cortuinly  r(?feral)le 
to  this  species  was  seen  ther<»  July  (i. 

4r.  Oavia  arctica.     Black-throated  Loon. 

A  loon  that  flew  over  our  boat  on  Thirty-Mile  River  July  is.  and 
another  seen  near  Big  Salmon  River  July  20,  I  helieve  wtM-c  (inriit 
(trctlca.  I  saw  several  loons  at  the  Aphoon  moutli  of  th<'  Yukon 
August  27  and  one  at  St.  Michael  on  8eptein))iM'  5  and  Ki.  We  <)l>tain('(l 
none  of  them,  Imt  the  experience  of  others  makes  it  probalile  that  all 
were  the  black-throated.  Dr.  Romig,  of  the  ^Moravian  Mission  on  the 
Kuskokwim  River,  told  me  that  his  party  killed  two  on  August  27  on 
the  portage  from  Bethel  on  the  Kuskokwiin  to  Hendricks  Station  on 
th(!  Yukon  Delta. 

5.  Lunda  cirrhata.     Tufted  Puffin. 

Osgood  saw  one  at  Whale  island,  near  St.  Michael,  September  s. 

().  Fratercula  corniculata.     Horned  Puffin. 

Wo  took  two  and  saw  about  a  dozen  puffins  near  Whale  Island  Sep- 
tember 8.  Irides,  drab  gray;  ring  on  eyelid  and  lip  of  1)111.  Ilamc 
scarlet;  rest  of  bill  dull  straw  yellow;  bare  skin  at  gape,  and  line  along- 
base  of  maxilla,  cadmium  yellow;  line  below  lower  eyelid  and  bonis, 
black;  palmations,  cadmium  orange;  tarsi  and  toes,  cadmium  orange 
above,  chrome  yellow  below;  nails  varying  from  drab  gray  to  slate 
color. 


m 


r 


58 


NORTH   AMEBICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  1». 


I,     * 


tl  i 


m 


7.  Simorhynchus  pasillns.     Least  Auklet. 

Aukietw  were  .seen  .severul  times  while  we  were  crossing  Berin}^  Sea 
in  the  6'</rwm  October  1-2  and  increased  in  numbers  as  we  approached 
the  Pribilofs.  They  were  common  with  various  other  (unidentified) 
species  of  water  birds  off  Unalaska  October  4  and  al)iindant  in  Akutan 
Pass  October  G.  I  refer  them  to  this  species,  as  Nelson  found  it  the 
most  abiuidant  in  these  waters. 

8.  Brachyramphus  marmoratus.     Marbled  Murrelet. 

This  bird  was  fairly  common  in  the  Inside  Passage  May  28-21),  and 
one  was  killed  at  Bocadequadra.  We  saw  a  f(;w  on  Ljmn  Canal  May 
30,  and  I  shot  one  near  Skagway  May  31.  Doubtless  some  of  the 
many  murrelets  seen  with  auklets  near  the  Pribilof  and  Aleutian 
islands  in  Octobei  were  this  species. 

9.  Cepphus  columba.     Pigeon  Guillemot. 

Seen  at  Bocadequadra  and  along  the  Inside  Passage  May  28-20. 
Guillemot**  which  1  saw  near  Unaluska  October  4  were  probably  this 
species. 

10.  Uria  lomvia  arra.     Pallas  Murre. 

The  murres  seen  near  St,  Michael  August  29  and  about  St.  George 
Island  and  Unalaska  in  October  were  probably  chiell)  this  species, 
though  some  may  have  been  Unn  troile  californtca. 

11.  Stercorarius  parasiticus.     Parasitic  Jaeger. 

Common  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  of  the  Yukon  August  27-28,  and 
about  St.  Michael  until  Septeml>er  10.  About  this  time  theii-  mnn- 
bcrs  decreased,  ajid  the  last  one  was  seen  September  1<).  All  a})peared 
to  bo  adults  (as  were  the  four  collected),  and  only  one  was  in  the  black 
plumage. 

12.  Stercorarius  longicaudas.     Long-tailed  Jaeger. 

I  saw  one  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  August  28,  and  l)oth  Osgood  and  I 
occasionally  .saw  the  species  at  St.  Michael  until  September  12. 

13.  Rissa  tridactyla  pollicaris.     Pacific  Kittiwake. 

Adult  kittiwakes  were  tolerably  connuon  at  St.  Michael  from  Sep- 
tember 19  to  the  end  of  our  stay,  but  no  young  were  seen.  As  we 
cx'os.scd  Bering  Sea  October  1-5,  and  at  Unalaska  October  5-(5,  young 
kittiwakes  were  common,  and  we  saw  no  adults  ex('«'pt  at  St.  George 
and  Unalaska.  The  irides  of  the  adult  are  Vandyke  brown;  ring  on 
eyelid  orange  rufous;  l)ill  sulphur  yellow,  whitish  at  tij);  gape  rufous; 
tarsi,  toes,  palmations,  and  nails  slate  black. 

14.  Rissa  brevirostris.     Ked -legged  Kittiwake. 

One  was  seen  by  Osgood  at  Unalaska  (Dutch  Harbor)  October  5. 


m\ 


[NO.  19. 


OCT,,  1900.) 


BIRDS    OF    THK    YUKON    ItEOION. 


59 


3'oun}f 


15.  Larus  barrovianus.     Point  Barrow  Gull. 

A))Uiiclant  on  the  Lower  Yukon,  at  the  Aphoon  mouth,  and  durinjf 
September  at  St.  Michael,  thou},'h  most  of  the  adults  had  gone  by  the 
middle  of  the  month.  While  enwi^ing  Bering  Sea  we  .saw  several 
young  October  2  and  others  near  Unala.ska  October  4-  A  young 
bird  shot  near  St.  iMichael  Septem])er  19  had  the  head  of  a  recenth' 
killed  ptarmigan  in  it.s  throat.  The  irides  of  the  young  are  Proufs 
Itrown;  tip  of  bill  and  sides  of  nails  black;  rest  of  bill,  toes,  and  ])al- 
mations  vinaceous  l)ufi';  rest  of  nails  diiib  gray. 

10.  Larus  glaucescens.     Glaucous-winged  (iull. 

Large  gulls,  which  doubtless  were  chiefl}'  this  species,  were  common 
from  Dixon  Entrance  to  Lynn  Canal  May  :i8-30,  and  we  saw  a  few 
near  Skagway  June  1-2.  At  Unalaska,  where  I  collected  two,  they 
were  almndant  Octolier  4-6.  A  few  gulls  that  followed  the  Carioln 
in  th(;  North  Pacific  I  think  also  Ijelonged  to  this  .species. 

17.  Larus  argentatus  smithsonianus.     American  Herring  Gull. 

The  only  large  gulls  I  took  on  the  Yukon — a  female  which  had  fin- 
ished laying,  collected  at  Lake  Tagish  June  30,  and  anothi^r  taken  near 
Charlie  Creek  August  S — were  this  species,  and  no  others  came  clo.sc 
enough  to  make  identitication  positive;  hence  I  must  refer  all  the  large 
gulls  seen  to  Lurm  a.  n/tufhf<on/amu<,  although  on  several  we  could  see 
no  black  on  the  prhnari(\s.  1  saw  one  Hying  over  White  Pass  Suinmit 
June  12  and  another  at  Bennett  (Jity  June  li*.  We  saw  eight  or  ten 
at  Caril)ou  Crossing  and  a  fiMV  on  Lake  Tagish.  No  more  were 
olwerved  until  we  reached  liake  Lebarge,  July  13;  but  from  this  jioint 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river  large  gulls  slowly  became  more  numerous, 
one  or  two  being  noted  every  few  days.  Three  fully  grown  young, 
with  tluiir  parents,  were  seen  on  a  sand  bar  about  15  miles  al)o\'e 
Circle  August  12. 

18.  Larus  brachyrhynchus.     Short-billed  Gull. 

Our  accpiaintance  with  this  bird  dates  from  our  arrival  at  Lak(> 
Marsh,  July  1,  when^  we  found  it  common,  and  took  downy  young 
the  next  day.  From  this  time,  until  we  reached  the  Tatchun  River, 
July  23,  hardly  a  day  passed  that  we  did  not  see  several;  on  .Tuly  20 
we  counted  fourteen  on  a  sand  bar  near  Little  Salmon  River.  After 
July  23  we  saw  no  mon;  until  Septeml)er  C.  when  young  of  the  year 
iippcared  at  St.  Michael,  and  wen;  common  there  until  the  23d.  The 
only  adult  seen  at  St.  ^Michael  was  noted  on  Septem})er  11. 

The  adidt  has  the  irides  Prout's  brown;  ring  on  eyelids  and  skin  at 
commissural  angle  reddish  orange;  gape  orange;  bill,  tarsi,  and  toes 
olive  yellow;  nails  l)lack,  french  gray  at  Itase. 

Natnl  plumage:  Creamy  white,  becoming  pale  cream  color  on  fore- 
head, chin,  and  anterior  breast,  mottled  with  dillerent  shades  of  brown, 


m\ 


(  • 


60 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


I 


I 


except  the  center  of  chest  and  alxlonion.  Head  markings  slate-black, 
distinctly  defined  and  numerous,  the  most  charucteristic  being  one 
tiiat  covers  the  entire  nasal  region,  a  V  on  the  pileum,  a  W  on  the  occi- 
put, and  a  somewhat  interrupted  U  on  each  side  of  the  throat.  On 
the  upperparts  tht>,  markings  l)ecome  pale  seal  ))rown,  and  with  lighter 
tips  render  the  lower  neck,  sides  of  l)rea.st,  Hanks,  and  anal  region 
grayish.  Bill  l»rownish  l)lack;  tip  of  bill,  tarsi,  toes,  and  palmatiooH 
whitish;  nails  and  edges  of  scutelhe  of  tarsi  and  toes  hair  brown. 

1!).  Larus  Philadelphia.     Bonaparte  Gull 

I  saw  several  small  hlac^k-headc'  aUls,  probably  this  species,  in  the 
Inside  Passage  May  29.  I  took  a  .>onaparte  gull  at  Caribou  Crossing 
on  June  2i  and  saw  several  others.  We  saw  one  on  Lake  Marsh 
Jidy  1,  a  few  young  at  St.  George  Island  October  8,  and  found  them 
conunon  at  Unalaska  October  4-5. 

20.  Xema  sabinii.     Sabine  Gull. 

Osgood  found  a  dead  bird  of  this  species  on  the  shores  of  Chilkat 
Inlet  June  1.  The  specimen,  unfortunately,  was  not  in  a  condition  to 
permit  its  preservation,  but  it  was  carefully  identified  at  the  time  and 
showed  no  apparent  variance  from  the-  description  and  figure  in 
Itidgway's  Manual. 

21.  Sterna  paradiseea.     Arctic  Tern. 

We  saw  a  large  fUx^k  of  ti^rns  in  the  Inside  Passage  May  29,  and 
two  days  later  at  Skagway  saw  a  f«'\v  more,  .securing  two,  which  proved 
to  be  of  this  .spctries.  At  Bennett,  between  June  15  and  20,  we  fre- 
(juently  saw  two  or  three,  and  I  was  iiit'oi-med  that  arctic  terns  bred  on 
a  small  lake  near  Log  ('abin,  British  CV)luml)ia.  We  found  a  breed- 
ing colony  of  about  twenty  on  a  small  rocky  island  lying  in  the 
entrance  to  Windy  Arm,  Lake  Tagish,  .lulj'  1.  I  found  foiu'  single 
eggs  (three  fresh  and  one  well  advanced  in  iju'ubation),  one  set  of  two 
(one  fresh  and  the  other  at  point  of  hatching),  and  also  a  young  ])ird 
whicli  had  just  left  the  shell.  There  were  no  nests;  the  young  l)ird 
and  eggs  were  in  the  short  grass  on  the  top  of  the  island.  Except  a 
single  bird,  seen  at  Lake  Marsh  and  j)robal)ly  belonging  to  this  colony, 
we  did  not  meet  with  terns  again  until  August  27,  when  I  found  this 
species  common  at  the  Aphoon  mouth.  A  single  tern  with  injured 
primaries  was  seen  frequently  at  St.  Michael  up  to  September  21. 
The  downy  young  diil'ers  fronithi!  description  given  in  Baii'd,  Brewer 
and  Ridgway's  'Water  Birds,'  in  having  the  forehead  plain  dusky,  the 
chin  whitish,  the  basal  half  of  bill,  t^rsi,  and  toes  salmon  pink,  and  the 
rest  of  ])ill  and  nails  black. 

22.  Diomedea  albatrus.     Short-tailed  Albatross. 

A  dark-brown  albatross,  probal)ly  the  young  of  />.  dlhttrm,  joined 
the  Corw'in  October  1,  about  15t)  miles  from  St.  Michael.     It  was  soon 


i 


m 


[NO.  19. 

e-black, 

ills'  *^"** 

ho  occi- 

at.     On 

lighter 

region 

lnmtion» 

wn. 


in  the 
Crossing 

Marsh 
nd  them 


OCT.,  1900.] 


BIKD8    OF    THK    YUKON    UK<H(»N. 


61 


acconipaniiHi  l»y  othern,  and  until  w«'  n'liclu'd  ( 'a]w  Scott,  OctoluT  i'2, 
a  glance  aHtern  would  .seldom  fail  to  show  two  or  tiiree  following  the 
vc.s.sel. 

23.  Fulmarus  glacialis  glupischa.     Pacitic  Fulniar. 

A  single  dark-col ;)red  fidniar,  possibly  this  foi-ni,  was  seen  October 
4,  between  St.  George  andUnidaska. 

24.  Oceanodroma  furcata.     Forked-tailed  IVtn^l. 

To  this  species  I  refer  a  few  light-colored  petrels  seen  October  3, 
on  Bering  Sea  north  of  the  l'ri)»iIof  Islands. 

25.  Fhalacrocorax  pelagicns.     Pelagic  Cormorant. 

Cormorants  were  seen  Octolier  4  near  Unahiska,  where  tiiis  species 
[8  reported  as  common. 

26.  Fhalacrocorax  pelagicus  robustus.     Violet-green  Ci  i  inorant. 

We  saw  a  single  cormorant  at  Whale  Island  September  M;  and  on«' — 
possibly  the  same  bird- -was  seen  by  Osgood  several  times  at  St. 
Michael. 

27.  Fhalacrocorax  urile.     Red-faced  Covmoi-jint. 

This  is  the  only  cormorant  rejjorted  by  William  I'almer  from  St. 
George,  where  we  saw  several  October  3. 

28.  Merganser  americanus.     American  Merganser. 

A  pair  of  mergansers  was  breeding  on  a  small,  rocky  island  in  Luke 
Tagish,  at  the  entrance  to  Windy  Arm,  June  3(i-Jidy  I.  Tlie  nest  was 
found  by  Osgood  in  a  crevice  in  the  cliffs  about  15  feet  above  the 
water.  It  was  made  of  down,  and  contained  seven  vggs  about  one 
week  advanced  in  incubation.  Retrieving  would  have  iieen  impossible 
had  we  shot  the  bird,  l)ut  as  1  suci'ceded  in  watching  the  female  on  the 
nest  from  a  distance  of  less  than  G  feet  I  feel  positive  of  the  species. 

A  few  other  mergansers,  usually  in  paii's.  wen^  s(>en  on  Ijak(^  Tagish 
July  1,  on  Lake  Marsh  July  S.  at  Fifty-Mile  River  July  1>  and  12  (a 
flock  of  a  dozen  males  flying  up  the  river  in  the  evening  of  the  latter 
date),  near  Little  Salmon  River  ,luly  20,  and  about  25  miles  above 
Circle  August  12.  Near  C^harlie  Creek  we  found  the  drieti  wing  of  an 
adult  male  of  this  species  August  8. 

2i).  Ana8  boschas.     Mallard. 

On  the  flats  of  Chilkat  Inlet  I  saw  seven  June  2.  In  no  part  of  the 
Yukon  Valle}'  above  Circle  did  we  And  ducks  a))undant,  except  surf 
scoters,  l)ut  the  mallard  undoubtedly  occurs  at  all  suitable  places 
throughout  the  region.  It  must  l)reed  very  early,  as  on  Jiuie  24,  oidy 
three  weeks  after  the  lakes  wei'e  open  to  steamer  navigation,  1  found 
a  female  with  two  young  at  Caribou  Crossing,  and  on  June  28  1  shot 


,       ; 


<>'  m 


n 


62 


NOKTH    AMEHIOAN    tAHNA. 


[NO.  19. 


'^ 


another  foumlc,  tliorc  and  cauj^lit  two  of  her  half  dozen  downy  j'oung. 
Two  ducks,  prohal)ly  nialhirds,  were,  ,sei>n  on  Lake  Marsh  July  0,  and 
at  MHe.s  Canyfui  Maddren  was  informed  they  had  l»een  common  there 
earlier  in  the,  season.  We  saw  several  females  with  young  in  the 
marsh}'  ponds  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Lcbargo  July  17,  a  few  adults  near 
the  Little  Salmon  July  20,  and  a  good-sized  flock  near  Cliarlio  Village 
August  10.     Osgood  shot  one  near  Fort  Yukon  August  21. 

In  the  large  flocks  of  geeso  and  ducks  disturbed  by  the  steamer  on 
the  Lower  Yukon  were  two  young  mallards,  secured  at  Hendi-jcks 
Station  August  25.  Mallards  were  common  at  the  Aplioon  mouth 
August  27,  and  wo  saw  a  few  at  St.  Michael  September  2. 

30.  Mareca  americana.     Baldpate. 

Five  ducks  that  I  took  to  bo  baldpates  were  seen  a  short  distance 
above  Fort  Selkirk  July  25. 

31.  Nettion  oarolinensis.     Green-winged  Teal. 

Three  teal  that  1  saw  in  the  creek  at  Circle,  August  l!»,  were  prob- 
ably this  species.  Green-winged  teal  were  common  in  the  tundra 
ponds  about  St.  Michael  during  the  first  half  of  Septem))er,  but 
apparently  did  not  occur  after  September  16.  All  that  were  taken 
were  young  birds. 

32.  Dafila  acuta.     Pintail. 

Maddren  was  told  at  Miles  Canj'on,  July  11,  that  pintails  were  com- 
mon, but  wo  saw  none  near  enough  for  identification  until  August  27, 
when  I  found  them  aljundant  at  the  Aphoon  mouth.  Seven  were  here 
killed  bj'  a  passenger  on  the  steamer.  During  September  young 
pintiiils  far  outnuml>ered  all  other  ducks  on  the  marshes  and  tundra 
ponds  about  St.  Michael.  Large  niuu))ei's  were  killed  by  the  Eskimos, 
but  no  adults  were  seen,  l^'heir  immbers  had  greatly  decreased  by 
September  20. 

33.  Aythya  marila.     Scaup  Duck. 

We  saw  a  tlock  of  al)out  a  dozen  adult  males  at  Cariltou  (crossing 
June  24,  and  another  of  about  twenty  on  the  Yukon,  a  short  distance 
above  Fort  Selkirk,  July  25. 

84.  Aythya  affinis.     Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 

We  found  a  pair  with  young  on  a  small  pond  at  LoMcr  Lebarge 
July  17.     Osgood  s(>ciu*ed  the  female. 

M."").  Clangula  clangula  americana.     Aniericati  (ioldeii-eye. 

\  am  confident  that  a  Hock  of  ducks  seen  about  25  miles  above  C'irclo 
August  12  were  males  of  this  species  or  of  V.  ialandica. 


.4*' 


[no.  19. 


mrr.,\'M).\ 


HlltDS    (»K     rHK    YUKON    RKOION. 


<$3 


young. 
■  <>,  and 

ill  the 
lt«  iiciir 
Villiigt! 


l)Ut 


l«irge 


36.  Charitonetta  albeola.     liiitHc-lu-ad. 

I  shot  a  ft'uiaU'  on  a  siiiiill  poiul  ncMir  Lako  Marsh  .hily  s,  and  saw 
a  nuilo,  near  Lltthi  Sahnon  River  July  20.  iMaddren  was  inforincd 
that  buffle-heads  were  connnoii  near  Aliles  {'aiiyon.  and  a  Itoy  at  Lower 
Leijargc  said  they  Itred  conuiionly  on  tlie  ponds  near  there,  and  that 
ho  took  two  young  July  16. 

37.  Harelda  hyemalis.     Old  Spiaw. 

Single  young  l)irds  were  found  fre((uently  during  Septeniher  in  the 
small  ponds  about  St.  Miehacl,  and  a  flock  of  about  a  dozen  was  seen 
in  the  harbor  September  11.  No  adults  were  observed.  One  young 
bird,  taken  early  in  September,  still  retained  nat^il  down  on  the  hind- 
neek. 

38.  Histrionicus  histrionicus.     Harlecpiin  Duck. 

We  saw  a  niali^  and  two  females  in  Wrangell  Narrows  May  UK.  A 
rtoek  of  twelve  males  eanui  close  to  the  shore  at  Bennett  June  IS;  and 
on  June  23  a  single  male  swam  so  near  that  men  sitting  on  the  beaeh 
threw  stones  at  it.  One  other  harleciuin  was  seen  a  few  miles  al)ove 
Fort  Selkirk  July  25.  Ur  Komig  told  me  he  saw  a  numl)er  on  the 
portage  from  the  Kuskokwim  to  the  Yukon  August  24-25. 

3!l.  Somateria  v-nigra.     Paeitie  Eider. 

We  saw  the  head  of  a  male  of  this  species  lying  in  the  window  of 
the  hotel  at  St.  Michael,  and  the  soldiers  at  the  barracks  had  a 
mounted  bird,  shot  near  St.  Michael  in  the  spring,  l)ut  we  saw  no 
living  eiders  of  any  species  during  our  trip. 

40.  Oidemia  americana.     American  Scoter. 

We  noticed  a  few  in  Wrangell  Narrows  May  21>,  and  I  saw  a  number 
otf  Unalaska  October  5. 

41.  Oidemia  deglandi.     White-winged  Scoter. 

This  species  was  fairly  numerous  at  Bocadequadra,  Wi'angell  Nar- 
rows, and  L\'nn  Canal  May  28-30.  We  saw  two  on  Lake  Marsh  July 
(),  two  on  Lake  Lel)arge  July  14,  and  a  Hock  of  al)out  twenty-tive  Hying 
up  Fifty -Mile  lliver  from  Lake  Lebarge  on  the  evening  t)f  .luly  12. 

42.  Oidemia  perspicillata.     Surf  Scoter. 

In  Lyiui  Canal,  near  Haines,  .Tune  1  we  noted  a  large  Hock  of  surf 
scoters,  most  of  which  had  disappeared  the  next  day.  Thej-  were 
abundant  on  all  the  Yukon  lakes  except  Bennett,  which  avi.  ahnost 
destitute  of  bird  life.  On  Lake  Tagish  we  saw  fourteen  June  30,  and 
at  Lake  Marsh  thirty  to  forty  males  almost  every  day  between  July 
1  and  8.  We  saw  no  more,  except  a  pair  on  July  11  on  Fifty -Mile 
River,  which   connects   Lake  Marsh  with    Lake   Lebarge,   until  wo 


il'i 


I  / 


* 


II 


<)4 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19 


I 


I    ' 


entered  Luke  LclKir};o  on  tho  ovt^iiiiijf  of  July  I'i,  vvIh'ti  a  tlock  of  at 
l<'a.-<t  a  iiuiHlifil  Hew  hijjfh  overhead  from  (he  direction  of  tlin  lako. 
About,  .S  J).  111.  and  at  10  p.  in.  of  tlu>  .suaic  evening,  and  on  the  next 
nioniiny.  we  saw  what  we  took  to  Ix'  thft  same  flock.  The  l)irds  wore 
jirohahly  taking-  a  moniitiii'  aii<l  evening  flight,  such  as  K.  S.  liryant 
has  i)otiee<l  in  the  ease  of  the  Avliite-winged  scoters  hi'oeding  at  Devils 
Lake,  Nortli  Dakota;  and  I  believe  tiiat  with  both  species  these  flights 
an>  taken  ehielly  to  exercise  the  wing  nuisehjs.  We  saw  no  females 
on  any  of  the  lakes,  nor  conld  we  tin<l  tliem  on  the.  shore,  though  they 
wen^  iindou))tedly  nesting  in  the  vicinity.  We  obsei'ved  several  on 
Thiity-Miie  Hiver  .luly  IS  and  tw(»  near  the  Little  Saliuon  July  20. 
Near  ^N'hale  Island,  at  St.  IMicluu'l.  we  saw  a  nundu'r  Septemlior  S, 
and  two  st-oters,  proliably  young  of  this  species,  Septendier  21.  I 
think  ther^^  were  a  few  with  the  American  scoters  I  saw  at  Unalaska 
October  o. 

4;5.  Chen  hyperborea.     Lesser  Snow  Goose. 

1  saw  Ave  snow  gees(!  at  the  Aplioon  mouth  .Vugust  28,  and  a  large 
flock  at  St.  Michael  September  11. 

41.  Anser  albifions  gambeli.     Aracricjan  White-fronted  Goose. 

A  single  wiiite-fi'onted  goose  was  s<hm  by  Osgood  among  a  numlier 
of  other  birds  killed  by  natives  atiout  thi  Yukon  Delta  August  2it. 

15.  Branta  canadensis  hntchinsi.     Ilutchins  (tooso. 

Altiiough  Maddren  was  informed  thiit  a  goose  with  four  young  ,vas 
seen  jiear  White  Hor.ie  Rapids  about  .Iid^'  11,  and  although  tlie 
sergeant  1.'.  cl  irge  of  the  police  station  of  Lower  Lebarge  told  us 
tliji*  tlionsaiid<  of  geese  and  ducks  passed  there  in  the  sj)ri)!g,  and 
that  he  liad  counted  tweiily-foui  distinct  species,  and  had  killed  both 
Ilutchins  a'id  eacklii'g  geese,  we  did  not  see  a  goose  of  any  species 
until  we  weic  in  the  neighborhood  of  Chailit!  Village,  August  10. 
There  we  saw  a  Dock  of  about  twenty  of  tlie  Brantu  f-^z/i/^/rv/.s/.v  group, 
and  Osgood  shot  two  lu.'t< hhinl  iv\\(\  saw  many  nioie  near  Fort  Yukon 
August  L'l.  lirowii  geese,  apparently  <"hiefly  this  subspecies,  were 
conmioii  Oh  the  Yukon  Hats  and  on  the  lower  rivn',  espci  iaily  the 
Yukon  Delta.  A  Ilutchins  goose  was  lirought  to  the  steamer /iVAv^ 
/w/v'1iyaii  Eskimo  August  L't),  and  I  f(»und  the  liird  common  at  the 
Aphoou  inoulli  August  27-28.  Prospectors  on  the  l\<rr  told  me  that 
geese  bred  abundantly  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Porcupine  and  the 
ivarshes  at   thi'  source  of  Kirch  Creek. 

[hiring  September  this  species  was  common  aliout  St.  Michaelin 
small  Hocks,  but  very  shy;  Osgood  took  o'le  September  28. 

\PhUiicti  c(ni(«ficii.  KmptM'oi'  Goom'.  Dr.  Roniig  told  me  thoy 
were  common  on  the  tundia  ah»ng  the  Ku.kokwim,  j 


^1 


.1 


\\- 


""*"■■■—'■ 


[NO.  19 


OCT.,  1900.] 


HIRDS    (»K    THK    YUKON    KK(}I(»N. 


05 


k   of  iit 

ic  lako. 

lit-  next 

(Is  wore 

linant 

t  IVvil.^ 

>  Hi.irht« 

ftMiialos 

ij(h  they 

vcrul  on 

iulv  lit). 

iii})er  ^S, 

r  21.     I 

Inalaskii 


liey 


\Olor  rnhiiiiliiiijiiis.  Whistliiifi'Swaii.  \\ C  were  told  that  a  .•^wari  - 
probably  this  species-    was  kiUcd  at  Circle  (hiriiiiL;'  the  spiiiio-.  | 

46.  Grus  canadensis.     Litth>  lirow  i  C'laiie. 

Along  the  Yukon  we  did  not  .>>  i!  any  cranes,  althonijh  I  tiioujjht  1 
heard  one  near  the  Little  Salmon  -Fidy  :il,  and  a  man  who  had  spent 
the  summer  at  Circle  told  me  he  had  heai'd  and  seen  tlie  suid- 
hill  crane''  there  freciueiitly  durini>-  the  past  two  months.  I  was  also 
infoi'med  by  prospectors  tliat  tliese  cranes  were  found  in  small  num- 
bers at  the  head  waters  of  Hirch  Creek  and  I'oi-cupine  River. 

Near  8t.  Michael  we  saw  tiocks  of  from  two  to  six  individuals  each 
almost  daily  during  the  first  half  of  September,  but  none  later  than  Sep- 
tembei-  15.  On  the  night  of  Se})tember  IH  and  all  the  following  day 
there  was  a  hard  southwest  gale.  On  the  14th  we  saw  large  num- 
bers— O.sgood  counted  ninety-six— flying  .south,  high  in  the  air. 

47.  Crymophilus  fulicarius.     lied  I'halarope. 

We  saw  a  small  tlock  near  Skagway  in  Lynn  Canal  June  "2,  and 
othern  I  believed-  to  be  thi.s  species  near  Wrangell  Narrows  and  in 
Prince  Frederick  Sound  May  2lt.  Osgood  took  one  at  St.  Miehael 
September  17  during  a  heavy  .storm. 

48.  Phalaropus  lobatus.     Northi'rn  Phalarope. 

Large  Hocks  were  .s(!en  near  Hixon  Kntraiice  May  'iS,  and  smaller 
ones  on  the  Inside  Passage  May  i!it.  From  a  Hock  of  about  twenty  on 
Lake  L(>barge  July  13  1  shot  a  female  that  was  changing  to  winter 
plumage,  and  on  a  Hmall  pond  at  Lower  Lebarg*'  July  17  \  took  a 
male  that  was  in  worn  breeding  plumage.  At  St.  Michael  September 
2  1  caught  a  young  bird  that  had  butone  wing,  and  on  St.  (ieorge 
Island  October  8  i  shot  one  that  was  swimming  alone  in  a  pool. 
Phalarojjev.,  probably  this  species,  were  .seen  on  liering  Sea  October 
1  and  4. 

4!>.  Gallinago  delieata.     Wil.son  Snipe. 

At  Haines  May  :'.l  1  was  tohl  that  .several  Wilson  snipe  had  been 
.seen  that  day,  but  was  unable  to  rind  then).  We  saw  one  on  b'ifty- 
Milo  River  not  far  below  Lake  Marsh  July  10,  and  another  in  the 
marsh  at  Lmver  Lebarge  July  17.  Osgood  .saw  one  at  Cii'cl(>  .Vugu.st 
is,  and  I  kilK'd  two  from  a  small  Hock  at  Hendricks  Station  ,\ugust 
2.').  At  St.  Michael  we  .saw  eight  or  ten  single  birds  between  Sep- 
tember \'l  and  ±2. 

.')(».  Tringa  couesi.     .VIeutian  Sandpiper. 

Coimnon  about  the  hiva   rocks  that  line  the  shore  at  St.  Miehael, 
where  flocks  of  live  to  rifty  were  ob.served,  but  oe.ly  small  Hocks  after 
Scptemb(>r  15.     A  few  were  occasionally  seen  on  the  tidal  nuul  Hats, 
44i>4— No.  il> b 


66 


NOliTU    AMKUICAN    FAUNA. 


(NO.  I'J. 


but  HOMO  about  t  ■  mkIs  in  the  interior  of  the  iMlund  or  on  tlic  salt 
meadow  behind  the  *<>\y<  Out  of  eighty  specimens  taken  only  eight 
were  adults,  and  five  <.f  these  were  taken  before  September  !».  On  tho 
roeky  shores  of  a  point  opposiU'  Dutch  Harbor,  irnalaska,  1  found 
them  coiiunon  October  5.  Those  taken  at  St.  Michael  wen;  molting 
into  first  winter  plunmge,  which  is  practically  complete  in  the  Una- 
laska  birds.  In  this  plumage  there  is  c<)nsiderable  individual  differ- 
ence in  the  width  and  shade  of  the  pale  edgings  of  the  feathers  of  the 
upperparts. 

Tho  irides  wci'"  Vandyke  brown:  bill,  black  changing  to  olive  buff 
in  basal  half;  tiirsi  and  toes,  yellowish  olive  l)uti'  washed  with  black; 
nails  black. 

I  find  great  sexual  variations  in  size  in  this  species,  the  f<»males,  a.> 
in  many  other  species  of  Limicohe.  a\'eraging  considerably  larger, 
especially  in  length  of  ]>ill.  Measurements  of  twenty-nine  males: 
Length  H.dO  to  8.1)4  (average  M.u7)  inches;  wing  4.37  to  5.1:^  (average 
4.89)  inches;  exposed  culnien  0.96  to  1.13  (average  l.Ofi)  inches;  tar- 
sus 0.91  to  1.03  (average  0.90)  inches.  Measurements  of  thirty-four 
females:  Length  8.5*)  to  9.r)6  (average  9.03)  inches;  wing  4.47  to  5.31 
(average  4.98)  inthes;  exposed  culmen  l.KI  to  1.42  (average  1.24) 
inches;  tarsus  0.96  to  1.05  (average  0.99)  inches. 


i 


51.  Tringa  ptilocnemis.     Pribilof  Sandpiper. 

We  saw  a  nuuii)er  on  St.  George  October  3,   hut  too  close  to  the 
rookiU'v  of  fur  seals  to  l)e  ol)tained. 


52.  Tringa  acuminata.     Sharp-tailed  Sandpiper. 

First  found  September  IS,  when  six  were  seen  with  a  large  tloi'k 
of  7'.  (/.  jHidfca  at  St  Michael.  We  did  not  see  more  than  a  dozen 
of  this  species  during  the  rest  of  September.  Although  th(^  species 
has  not  l)(>en  hitherto  recorded  from  St.  CnMU'ge  Island,  we  took  three 
and  saw  about  ii  do/<'n  during  the  slioit  time  we  wert>  there  October  3. 
At  Unalaska,  October  5,  1  secun^l  one  which  was  with  7'.  coiux!  on 
the  rocky  beach.  Tlie  irides  were  Vandyke  hrovvn;  maxilla  and  distal 
half  of  mandible,  dark  seal  brown,  mandiltle  changing  to  dull  olive  butf 
at  base;  gai)e  ecru  drab;  tarsi  and  toes,  greenish  niai/e  yellow;  nails 
black. 


53.  Tringa  maculata.     Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

This  sju'cirs  was  present  througiiout  oar  stay  at  St.  Mic^Sswl, usually 
asHOi'iating  with  ilocks  of  T.  a.  p(ioh''<-ii,  hut  in  very  small  numlK  -s, 
not  more  tiian  twenty  being  seen.  All  the  siwcimens  taken  were 
young  birds.  Osgood  took  one  at  St.  (ieorge  October  ;'..  and  I  >ne  -it 
Uuulaska  Octobor  5, 


NO.  19. 


<'i.T.,  1900.1 


mUDS    OK    THK    YUKON    KKGION. 


()7 


1(1  .suit 
ly  t'ij>ht 

On  the 
i  I'ouikI 
molting 
111'  Umi- 

.liffer- 
•s  of  the 


ales,  afc 
liir{,'-or, 
nuilo.s: 


\.2i) 


IK     M. 


54.  Tringa  bairdi.     Buinl  SiindpiixT. 

Two  windpipcrs.  prohuhly  of  this  six-cics.  (lew  hy  ii.s  on  Laivci  Marsh, 
and  we  saw  four  inorc  in  the  niarsiics  of  Lower  Lel)iir<!:e,  i)ut  failed 
to  secure  any  of  them.  I  siiot  one  younj^'  itirtl  near  tiie  'ralikandiic 
River  .\.u<,nist  7.  Osjjood  shot  one  from  a  llock  of  four  at  Circle 
Au<,nist  ir>.  and  anotlier  near  Fort  Yukon  .Vugust  21. 

55.  Tringa  minutilla.     Least  Sandpiper. 

At  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Marsh,  not  fai'  from  wiiere  Six-.Mile 
River  enters,  the  surrounding  country  is  hnel,  and  at  higli  water  the 
hike  stretches  fa !•  hack  through  a  den.se  growth  of  willows.  .Vt  the 
time  of  our  visit  the  retreating  water  of  the  lake  had  left  a  helt  of 
grass  between  the.se  willows  and  its  margin.  Here  on  the  evi'iiing  of 
July  2  I  found  three  pairs  of  least  sandi)ipers,  and  after  a  long  search, 
.somewhat  interrupted  hy  hordes  of  uios(|iiitoes,  1  came  upon  a  female 
surrounded  ))v  four  downy  young.  Both  i)arents  tried  time  and 
again  the  Avell-known  'woundiMl-hird"  tactics  to  lure  me  from  the  spot 
where  the  5'oung  were  hidden  in  the  Itunches  of  gra.ss,  and.  finding 
this  a  failiue,  would  circle  ai'ound  me  oidy  a  few  yards  otl'.  uttering  a 
plaintive  twitter.  I  .saw  two  other  least  sandpipers  on  the  west  shore 
of  Lake  Marsh  July  7. 

Natal  plumage:  Lower  ])arts.  forehead  and  orltital  region,  hrownish 
white.  r))])ciparts  bright  ciiuiamon  I'ufous  mottled  with  hlack;  many 
leathers,  especially  on  head.  rump,  and  tail,  tipped  with  white.  I'ost- 
orbital  line  and  loral  line  blackish,  and  .spot  of  l»right  cinnamon  rufous 
on  sides  or  ch.-st.  Trides  dark  hrown:  Itill  and. nails,  slate  black:  tarsi 
and  toes,  pale  slate. 

5().  Tringa  alpina  pacifica.     Ued-l»acked  Sandpi))er. 

Young  red-l)acked  .sandpipeis  were  very  ahundant  at  St.  Miclia»>l 
during  our  stay,  many  times  ontnumlK>rii\g  all  other  Limicoia'.  Karly 
in  Septeml)er  they  frequented  chiefly  the  nuid  Hats  on  the  coast,  hut 
aftei'  the  middle  of  the  moi\th  large  numbers  were  found  only  about 
the  pools  of  the  .salt  marsji.  Septeud»er  ii4.  when  the  tundra  was  (juite 
thoroughly  froi^en,  with  snow  in  every  hollow  and  a  skinmiing  of 
ice  on  the  pools.  I  .saw  at  h  ust  one  hundred  in  this  latter  [)lace. 

In  several  taken  early  in  .S(«j)teiid)er  the  back  of  the  neck  was  still 
covere-!  with  down,  hut  th(>  majority  were  in  full  juvenile  plumage. 
Sonn-  siii!  retiiined  this  plumage  at  the  time  we  left  St.  Michael,  hut 
th(>  larger  ]K)rtion  had  molti'd  into  winter  plumage.  Oidy  two  adults 
weve  tak(>n.  Septemhei-  1  nrid  5.  A  few  were  seen  at  .St.  (Jeorge 
Island  ()ct)ber  '.]. 


Calidris  arenaria.     Sanderling. 

saw  ll  ree  at  St.  .Michael   .September    II   and  collected 


proved  to  lie  a  xoinig  female. 


,  which 


68 


N(»KTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA 


[no.  19. 


l)S.  Totanus  flavipes.     Y(>ll()w-lt'<>s. 

On  .Inly  1,  svliilc  tloatiiit;'  down  Six-Mile  Kivcr  close  to  its  ciitrancc 
into  Lake  Mai'sh,  we  wen;  attracted  by  the  anxious  cries  of  a  pair  of 
yellow-lcifs.  Osf>-oo([  shot  both  birds,  and  we  found  two  downy  young 
in  the  <>i'ass  (tn  tlie  shore  of  the  river.  Enterinj;f  Lake  Marsh  wc 
heard  a  yellow-leys'  whistle,  and  on  Jul}'  2  I  saw  a  yellow-legs  near 
whore  T  found  the  least  sandpiper.  I  eoUected  a  female  on  the  west 
shore  of  liake  Marsh  ,Iul\  cS,  and  a  male,  the  hist  1)ird  of  this  species 
seen,  near  a  small  })ond  at  Lower  Lel)arge  July  17.  Both  these  birds 
undoubtedly  had  eggs  or  young  ch)se  l)y,  for  they  alighted  exclusively 
in  trees,  scolded  vocifonmsly,  tilting  the  bod}'  with  each  cry.  and 
refused  to  '<'a\'e.  Bare  spaces  on  the  breast  show  that  ))oth  sexes 
assist  in  incubation. 

N'ltal  i)liunage:  I'pperparts  and  thighs,  dark  seal  brown,  many  of 
the  feather's  tipped  with  cream  bull'  and  whitish;  longitudinal  lines  on 
vump.  cream  color,  inclosing  central,  seal-l)r()wn  space.  Forehead, 
butfy  white,  extending  in  narrow  lines  on  sides  of  crown  to  occiput, 
and  in  l)i'oader  lines  above  eye  to  nap(%  the  latter  crossed  by  trans- 
verse dark  lines  extending  from  eye  to  occiput.  Line  beginning  at 
base  of  culmen  enlarged  to  dark  .space  on  crown  and  occiput.  t>xtend- 
ing  down  neck  to  back,  seal  brown;  other  dark  lines  extending  from 
crown  above  eye  to  occiput,  and  from  nostrils  through  eye  to  nape. 
Throat  and  center  of  altdomen  silvery  white;  rest  of  lower  parts  and 
sides  of  neck.  l)uliy  white;  each  fcathei'  of  lower  [jarts  Ix'coming 
1»rownish  black  at  l)ase.  Trides,  Vandyke  brown;  l>ill,  black  at  tip, 
changing  to  gretnisli  i>H\c  at  base;  tarsi  and  toes,  \illow.  ))aler  than 
in  adult,  and  mottled  with  brown;  nails,  brown.  The  juvenile  plumage 
is  appi'ariiig.  in  this  specimen,  on  wings,  wing  cox  cits,  chest,  and  sides. 

5!».  Helodromas  solitarius  cinnamomeus.  vW^torn  fSoiilary  Sandpiper. 
At  Ivog  ('al>in.  Uriii>l,  (,'oluuibia.  on  tho  evewii^  of  June  14,  we 
noticed  a  sandpiper  wli^  ug  thmugli  the  air,  liko  rth'  woodcock  at  its 
))i'eeding  place,  occji^i.ii  y  utiei'ing  :i  i^athfr  »»*^ii«'Hl  whistle.  The 
next  inoniing  i  found  it  feeding  in  a  sinnll  ssw»»^x  It  V'oxfd  t  he  a 
solitary  sandpiper,  as  I  had  sii^pccbni  on  th*-  pn'vious  evening. 
Osgood  saw  another  near  Lake  .Mai"^  -July  ."i,  and  I  saw  two  near 
Little  Salmon  Uivei- .lu!y  21.  On  Juty  S,  after  rowing  a  !'«  >>  miles 
down  Jjake  Marsh,  wc  stop) )ed  for  lunch  on  the  west  shon',  whnva 
fort'st  lire  had  killed  most  of  the  trees,  and  fallen  trunks  piled  in  ond- 
less  confusion.  Iirush.  small  pools,  and  hoitU's  of  mosquitoes  it-mieivd 
the  place  anything  ImI  a  i)aradi>c.  Here  1  ««tHrtled  a  solitstry  satHl- 
pipeiand  a  yellow-legs  at  the  salln^  instnnt.  They  lightol  «»«  the  hnlf- 
falh'n  trees  and  scolded  inc.  tilting  their  bodies  at  each  crv.  The 
solitary  sandpiper.  whi<h  d()ul)tless  liad  a  nest  there,  ditl'ei-ed  ehietly 
from  castA'rn  specimens  «>f  salt'tdftHs  in  having  dark,  whvv  markii*^ 


[NO.  19. 


OCT.,  1900.) 


lURDS    OF    THE    YUKON    KKOION. 


(')9 


'itiiiiice 

l)uir  of 

young 

irsh  we 

gs  near 

he  west 

species 

-('  l)ii'ds 

iisively 

■\ ,  and 

II  sexes 


on  inner  wcl)s  of  outer  priniiiries.  Osgood  took  a  lypieal  young  of 
cinnamaincH.s  and  saw  another  on  an  island  near  Sixty-Mile  ("reelv 
August  1.       . 

60.  Symphemia  semipalmata  inornata.     Westt^'  n  Willet. 

While  in  a  meadow  a  short  (listune(>  l)ack  from  tht^  .southeast  end  of 
Lake  Marsh  July  "l  1  heard  a  willet  whi.><tle  .several  times  its  unnds- 
takahle  '})ill-wiUet.'  hut  failed  to  see  the  bird. 

61.  Heteractitis  incanus.     Wandering  Tattler. 

Osgood  took  an  adult  at  Skagway  May  ;')!.  1  shot  a  young  bird 
from  a  Hock  of  three  at  St.  Michael  Se])teiiih(M-  1.  saw  one  on  Whale 
Island  Septem))er  S,  and  secured  two  at  Unalaska  October  Ti. 

The  iridcs  of  the  adult  were  \andyke  l)ro\vn;  bill,  l)iack,  base  v)f 
mandilde  brownish;  tarsi  and  toes,  brownish  ocher;  nails,  bhu'k.  in 
the  3'oung.  the  1)111  changed  from  black  to  sage  green  in  basal  third  of 
mandible,  and  to  greenish  olive  at  i)as(>  of  ma.xilla;  tarsi  and  toes, 
dull  gallstone  yellow,  greenish  at  joints. 

02.  Actitis  macularia.     Spotted  Sandpiper. 

1  saw  one  at  Skagway  .lune  :'«.  and  Osgood  one  at  (Hacier  dune  S. 
This  is  preeminently  the  shore  l»ir(l  of  the  Yukon  Basin;  we  saw  two 
at  Bennett  dune  IS,  and  until  we  reached  Circle,  August  15,  hardly 
a  day  passed  without  our  seeing  many  ruiming  along  th(>  shore,  oi' 
skimnung  over  the  river.  They  Avere  especially  al)un(lant  between 
White  IIor.se  Kapids  and  Lake  Lel)arge.  After  the  1st  of  Augu.st 
most  of  the  spotted  siuidpipers  seen  seemed  to  be  traveling  ujjstream 
in  small  Hocks.      We  saw  no  adults  after  August  4. 

The  tirst  set  of  eggs  was  found  at  Caribou  Crossing  dnne  27;  the 
lastut  the  Tatchun  River  duly  28.  The  lirst  young  noticed  were  in  n 
nest  contaiiung  three  young  and  one  ))ipped  y'\i)f  found  on  Lake  Marsti 
duly  7.  Both  sexes  were  incubating.  Nests  were  close  to  th<'  shore, 
and  also  on  small  rocky  islands  in  th(>  lakes. 

CWl  Numenius  hudsonicus,     Hudsoiuan  Curlew. 

1  secured  one  from  a  ilock  of  four  curlews  on  the  marshes  of  Chilkat 
Inlet,  and  Osgood  found  a  dead  Itird  in  the  woods  at  Haines,  .luiie  I. 
Three  yomig  were  brought  to  the  .steanuu-  liy  iui  Eskimo  at  the  Aphoon 
mouth  August  2S.  I  .sawoneat  St.  Mieha(>l  Septembei' 2.  and,  1  tlunk. 
anothei'  Septcndtei'  14. 

Adult:  Iridcs,  vandyke  bi'o^vn;  bill  and  nails.  Mack;  tarsi  and  toes 
einerecnis.  Young  (Massachusetts  specimen);  Iride-.  raw  innber; 
maxilla,  black;  mandible,  clov(>  bi'own,  blackish  at  tip.  \  in;.ceous 
toward  base;  tarsi  and  toes,  olive  urav;  nail>,  black. 


70 


NORTH    AMKRICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  in 


I 


64.  Squatarola  squatarola.   liluck-bellitMl  Plovor. 

At  the  Aphoon  mouth  of  the  Yukon  I  saw  ii  flock  Aiij>ust  28. 
Osjjood  saw  threo  3'oung  which  had  been  .shot  oii  the  niaiuhind  near 
St.  Michael  September  1<>,  and  from  this  date  to  the  end  of  our  sfciy 
we  saw  occasionally  one  or  two  birds  of  the  year,  one  of  whi<'li  was 
taken  September  16. 

65.  Charadrius  dominious  fulvus.     Pacific  Golden  Plover. 

None  were  seen  until  September  16,  after  which  youni^  birds  liecame 
fairly  common  on  the  boggy  tundra  al)out  St.  Michael  and  the  mud 
flats  along  the  shore.  The  only  adult  seen  was  taken  b}'  Osgood  Sep- 
tember 25.  We  saw  a  number  of  young  birds  on  St.  (leorge  Island 
October  H,  and  Osgood  secured  one.  Crossing  Bering  Sea  we  saw  some 
near  Unalaska  October  4,  and  I  saw  one  on  October  8,  when  we  were 
several  hundred  miles  south  of  the  Aleutian  Islands.  Tliis  bird  flew 
several  times  around  the  ('(irinln,  answering  my  every  whistle,  and 
seemed  anxious  to  alight.  The  specimens  collected  difl'er  greatly  in  the 
amount  of  the  golden  coloring,  t)ut  all  are  far  more  golden  than  Massa- 
chusetts skins  of  doiii/n/cu.-<,  and  all  have  the  shorter  wings  oifulviis. 
Irides.  vandykc  brown;  t)ill  and  nails,  })lack;  tarsi  and  toes,  slate 
gray. 

W>.   iEgialitis  semipalmata.     Semii)almated  Plover. 

Osgood  collected  a  niai(>  at  Caribou  Crossing  .June  24.  and  a  pair  of 
adults  and  one  pippc-1  egg  at  the  southcin  end  of  Lake  Marsh  ,luly 
2.  1  ninovod  the  3'oung  bird  froni  the  shell,  and  within  half  an  hour 
the  di>wn  was  almost  dry,  the  eyes  were  open,  and  it  cnuld  hop  aluntl 
on  its  'knees.*  Ma^ldren  took  another  aduit  at  this  place  ,Iul\  U,  and 
1  a  female  and  four  eggs  nearly  hatched,  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
Miirsh  on  the  same  day.  The  nest  was  a  hollow,  lined  with  a  few 
gras.-ies  and  dead  leaves,  and  was  situated  about  S  feet  from  the  water 
in  the  drift  detiris  among  the  stones  of  X\w  \'><^A\.  Wi'  saw  three  or 
four  on  a  sand  flat  neai'  Charlie  Village  \»vi^ust  1(>;  ?^  few  about  15 
miles  above  (.'iicle  August  12,  and  the  hist  at  Circle  August  15. 

Pare  pectoral  spaces  showed  that  1><>th  sexes  assist  in  incubation. 
Natal  plumage:  Lower  jtarts,  whit\\  sepjvnUed  l>y  l»road  bai'e  space  on 
nci-k,  changing  to  cream  color  iM\  lower  tnil  v^>vorts.  Above,  cream 
color,  mottled  with  black,  (hanging  to  hurt  on  wings  and  tail.  Fore- 
head and  infraorbital  palcluvs.  cnx^ui  color;  l)road  band  on  neck 
encircling  head,  white,  boi'dercd  hUao  by  narrow  band  of  black 
extending  from  bill  annuid  occiput,  >^»ul  comiecting  in  malar  region 
with  Idack  lin<'  leading  to  inner  canlhus  of  eye.  Spot  on  forehead,  on 
sides  of  chest  at  lower  bordiM'  of  IvuH'  s])ace.  on  sidtvs  and  on  flanks, 
black.  Irides,  dark;  bill  and  uiMls,  black;  tarsi  and  toes,  slate  color, 
whitish  posteriorly. 


[ND.  Ill 


OCT.,  1900.1 


BIRDS    OF    THK    YUKON    REGION. 


71 


Ji'u.st  28. 
iikI  near 
our  stay 
hi<li  was 


(i7.  Arenaria  melanocephala.     Black  Tunistoiic. 

Wo  found  a  .small  llork  on  the  rocky  shore  at  St.  Michael  Aujjust 
31.;  I  took  throe  \oiing  there  the  next  day,  and  on  Soptenihor  .">  I  .saw 
a  single  turnstono  flyiiig  acro.ss  the  marsh.  On  St.  George  Island, 
October  5,  we  saw  a  numhoi"  of  t)irds  that  wo  had  no  doiiht  wo.re  black 
turnstones,  but  1  do  not  tind  this  species  recorded  from  the  Pribilofs. 
and  we  were  una)>lo  to  obtain  specimens.  Irides,  vandyke  brown; 
bill,  olive  l)lack;  tarsi  and  toes  varying  fi'om  day  color  to  vinacoous 
cinnamon,  and  washed  with  black;  nails,  black. 

68.  Dendragapus  obscurus  fuliginosus.     Sooty  (Jrouse. 

Wo  were  told  that  grouse  wore  coumu)?)  on  the  heights  al)ovo  Skag- 
way,  but  although  we  often  found  droppings  wo  saw  no  Itirds,  and  the 
spring  'calling'  of  the  male  had  ceased.  Maddren  and  I  hoard  a  bird 
that  must  have  been  this  species  'booming'  far  upon  the  hillside  from 
the  ravine  above  Glacier  .Juno  8. 

69.  Canachites  canadensis  osgoodi.     Alaska  (Ji-ouso. 

CaniwhiU'K  ci-tiiitileii.'iis  (is;/(i(jili  Bisliop,  .Vuk,  XVII,  11-4.  .Vjirii,  litOO. 

We  tirst  met  the  Alaska  grouse  at  iiennott  City,  whore  Osgood  shot 
a  laying  female  .lune  22.  At  Caribou  Croissing  he  found  feathers  of 
this  grouse  in  a  magpie's  nest  and  in  one  of  his  mamma!  traps.  At 
Lake  Marsh  he  shot  four  females  and  four  young  .luly  4—5,  at  Lake 
Lebarge  a  female  .July  li,  at  Lower  Lol)argo  a  fcMtiaio  and  one  young 
July  17,  and  on  Thirty-Mile  River  an  adult  male  .luly  11>.  Ho  found 
the  birds  frequenting  the  thickets  of  poplars  and  young  spruces  and 
remarkably  easy  to  approach.  1  saw  a  male  at  Lake  Lol)arg(>  .luly  16, 
and  shot  a  well-grown  young  near  tlu;  Tatchun  River  .July  16,  but 
did  not  meet  with  the  .species  elsewhere.  This  ))ird  was  reported  as 
common  at  Lower  Lel>uige  by  the  police  .sergeant  stationed  tlioro;  at 
Rampart  City  l)y  Mr.  IJurkman,  and  along  the  Ivuskokwim  by  Dr. 
Romig. 

70.  Bonasa  umbellus  umbelloides.     Gray  Ruffed  (trouso. 

I  secured  a  female  and  one  young  bird  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
L«'barge  .July  1-1,  and  another  femah'  that  had  a  brood  of  young,  two- 
thirds  grown,  iit  Lower  Lel)argo  -July  17.  O.sgood  took  a  young  bird 
fi'om  a  ci)vi\v  near  Rink  Rapids  .July  2'2.  The  .sergeant  at  Low(>r 
Lel)arge  called  this  species  rare,  but  1  was  told  it  was  common  near 
Rampart  City. 

71.  Lagopus  lagopus.     ^^'illow  rtarudgan. 

'I'wo  flocks  were  found  on  the  tundra  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  Augu.st 
28,  one  alighting  close  to  the  .steamer.  Not  seen  at  St.  .Michael  until 
SeptcnibcM'  II,  when  about  one  luuidrod  apix'ai'od.  Those  wore  .seen 
frequently  after  this  date,  lait  W(Me  exceedingly  shy.      Most  of  those 


72 


NORTH    AMKRICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO,  19. 


w 


i  I' 


taken  wiM'c  younjf  Itirds,  and  all  wort^  in  full  molt.  The  iiidcs  of  a 
young  male  t^iken  Soptoinbcr'  10  were  vandyke  brown;  skin  above 
eye,  rufous;  bill,  slate  l)lHek.  whitish  at  tip  and  salmon  but!'  at  ])ase  of 
mandible;  nails,  white. 

We  were  told  that  ptarmigan  were  very  al>un(lant  near  Atiin.  British 
Colum])ia,  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Porcupiiu^  River  and  Birch  Creek, 
near  lliunpart  City,  along  the  Kuskokwim,  and  in  winter  at  Glacier 
and  Lower  Lebaige.  Doubtless  some  of  tliese  stjitements  refer  to  the 
following  species. 

72.  Lagopus  rupestris.     Rock  Ptarmigan, 

At  White  PassSmnmit,  June  11  and  13,  we  took  three  males  still  in 
whit(>  i)lumage  (excepting  a  few  dark  feathers  on  iiead  and  lower 
neck),  and  saw  a  few  others.  Osgood  found  two  <'ggs  there.  i)robably 
of  the  previous  year,  lying  on  the  moss  under  an  alpine  hemlock. 
Dr.  Romig  told  me  that  this  soccies  was  more  common  than  L.  ItK/ojiiia 
along  the  Kuskokwim. 

\L(ujopnx  TupcHtrlx  iwlxoiil.  Nelson  PtJirmigan.  We  were  told  at 
Unalaska  that  this  species  had  been  aliundant  during  the  summer  on 
Unalaska  Island,  ])ut  that  the  birds  had  been  almost  exterminated  l)y 
the  officers  of  an  English  man-of-war.  We  saw  none  during  tlu>  da\' 
and  a  half  wo  were  there.] 

73.  Lagopus  leucurus.     White-tuiled  Ptarmigan. 

Osgood  took  a  white-tailed  ptarmigan  flune  8  on  the  suminit  of  the 
cliffs  a])Ove  Glacier,  and  saw  several  other  ptarmigan,  prol)uhly  of  this 
species.  On  June  8  ho  found  at  the  .same  place,  on  the  moss  un<leran 
alpine  hemlock,  fragments  of  two  ptarmigan  eggs,  sparingly  dotted 
with  lirown  as  in  Ivucurm. 

7-i.  Circus  hudsonius.     !Marsh  HaAvk. 

We  saw  one  at  Lake  iSIarsh  July  8,  one  at  Tiuke  Lcbarge  July  12, 
a  young  bird  on  which  duck  hawks  wen;  feeding  near  tlie  Talikandik 
River  August  7.  one  about  20  miles  above  Circle  August  12,  and  two 
at  Circle  August  15  and  20.  At  the  Aphoon  mouth  I  saw  .several 
August  28.  At  St.  Michael  we  secun>d  a  young  bird  Sei)teml)er  2, 
and  saw  single  marsh  hawks  on  September  (>,  7,  and  11.  The  young 
bird  taken  is  noticeal)ly  darker  than  young  from  Dakota  and  New 
F^ngland. 

75.  Accipiter  velox.     Sharp-shinned  Iliiwk. 

1  saw  one  at  Lower  Lebarge  fliily  17.  and  two  near  White  River 
July  30;  Osgood  found  one  fcM'ding  on  a  Ihi'iish  near  Charlie  Creek 
August  H:  at  Circle  1  saw  one  August  IT  and  shot  an  adult  female 
August    1!>.      Osgood   found    a    nest    of    this    species,  about   1.5  feet 


f& 


[no.  19. 

■i<l('.s  of  11 
ill  above 

it  ))ilS(>  of 

1.  Hritish 

t  (Jliicior 
"<'r  to  the 


s  still  in 

d     lo\V(M" 

I'ohilhly 
•  Miilock. 

told  jit 

inner  on 

Mated  l)y 

tli((  day 


lit  of  the 
y  of  thi,s 
iiKh'ran 
y  dotted 


filly  12, 
ilvaiidik 
nd  two 
several 
iilxM-  2, 
.young 
d  Now 


Hivor 
( Jreek 
einah' 
5  feet 


(JCT.,1900.J 


BIKD8   OF  THE   YUKON   REGION. 


78 


from  the  ground,  in  a  .small  .spruc(>  in  the  center  of  an  inland  near  the 
Noi'denskiohl  River  July  22,  and  1  secured  the  female,  whose  cioi) 
held  the  tibia,  tarsus,  and  toes  of  a  tlicker.  The  ne.st  contained  three 
downy,  but  very  pugnacious  young,  one  infertile  (']l]l.  and  the  remains 
of  a  young  intermediate  sparrow.  I  kept  two  of  the  young  alive 
until  July  31,  when  both  worn  well  feathered  and  trying  to  fly  and 
were  as  irascible  as  ever.  The  last  survivor  succeeded  in  gettiii<;'  out 
of  his  box  w'iile  we  were  moored  at  Dawson,  Hew  into  the  Yukon,  and 
was  cai'ried  rapidly  along  by  the  cunent,  though  struggling  valiantly 
to  reach  the  shore.  I  susp(!ct  that  it  succeeded,  as  I  heard  a  man  who 
hurried  after  it  say  later  that  he  would  have  'fricasseed  chicken  for 
diimer."' 

70.  Accipiter  atricapillus.     American  (loshawk. 

I  saw  an  adult  Hying  high  above  the  shore  of  Lake  Marsh  .Inly  S 
with  a  mammal,  probably  a  ground  scpiirrel,  in  its  talons. 

77.  Buteo  borealis  caluruc.     Western  Ilcnl-tail. 

This  is  presuma])l\'  the  common  hawk  of  the  Fpper  Yukon;  for  the 
two  large  hawks  taken  are  this  species,  and  the  numerous  others  seen 
resembled  these  in  appearance,  lli},'ht,  and  cry.  About  half  were  in 
the  melanistic  plumage. 

Passing  down  Six-Mil(>  River  ,Iuly  1  we  saw  three  large  buteos 
circling,  and  we  noticed  othei's  frefpiently,  usually  in  pairs,  until  wc 
left  Circle.  Osgood  and  Maddren  found  a  nest  near  Lake  Marsh  -lulv 
5  regarding  which  a  pair  of  these  birds  were  very  solicitous.  It  was 
high  in  a  spruce,  and  was  empty  except  for  a  dead  groimd  s(iuirrel. 
On  Fifty-Mile  River  Jul}'  10  1  found  a  nest  that  was  about  55  feet  up 
in  a  spruce  and  contained  two  downy  young.  Osgood  shot  the  female, 
which  was  in  light  plumage;  the  male,  a  melanistic  bird,  escaped. 
Osgood  shot  a  melanistic  female  at  Lower  Lebarge  July  17,  and  I 
found  a  pair — one  light,  the  other  dark — near  Fort  Selkirk  July  25. 
These  had  a  nest  that  was  00  feet  up  in  a  sjjruce  and  contained  two 
young  able  to  lly.  I  saw  another  nest  with  the  l>irds  about  it  on  an 
island  near  the  White  River  July  31. 

78.  Archibuteo  lagopus.     Rough-legged  Hawk. 

On  September  1,  0,  7,  and  1»  we  saw  at  St.  Michael  large  hawks 
which  from  their  proportions  and  llight  were  either  l)uteos  or  archi- 
buteos.  Osgood  shot  one  on  Whale  Island  September  S.  but  could 
not  retrieve  it.  Mr.  Nelson's  experience  with  the  hawk  family  at  St. 
Miihael  leads  mo  to  refer  these  birds  to  this  species. 

7'.).  Haliseetus  albicilla.     (iray  Sea  Eagle. 

Lieutenant  Satterlee,  of  the  (hno/'ii,  found  a  dead  bi'-d  of  this 
species  at  Unalaska  October  5.  which  proved  to  l)e  a  young  female. 


M 


74 


NORTH    AMKKICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


Th«'  wiiijjs  had  Immti  rcinovod  at  tlu'  caipal  joint,  hut  the  luinitflod 
phmm^'t'  the  down  Vft  i)('i'sistinj>-  on  tlic  ends  of  tlic  secondaries — 
romovcH  all  prol)ahilitv  that  it  had  )hmmi  acaj^cd  hird.  This  is  the  first 
record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  western  North  America, 
althouffh  it  is  coninion  in  Japan  and  occurs  in  Kamchatka  and  occa- 
sionally on  the  Commander  Islands. 

80.  Haliseetus  leucocephalus  alascanus.     Northern  Raid  Eai^le. 

We  found  this  hird  connnon  alonjf  the  Inside  I'assa<jfe,  especially 
near  Wrangell  Narrows,  and  from  the  steamer  I  noticed  three  occupied 
nests.  We  visited  one  which  was  high  in  a  gigantic  dead  cedar  on  a 
small  island  near  Hocade(|uadra.  Broken  shells  at  the  foot  of  the  tree 
made  it  probahle  that  the  nest  centained  yoiuig.  Tlu-  female  parent 
was  secured  hv  Maddren.  On  the  flats  of  C'hilkat  Inlet  June  1  I  saw 
28  eagles  feeding.  Here  I  found  another  occupied  nest  at  least  100 
feet  up  ill  a  living  spruce  (it  was  so  high  that  heavy  charges  of  No.  4 
shot  did  tlie  hird  no  harm).  A  man  passing  l»y  shot  the  male  with  a 
rifle.  The  nexf  day  1  saw  the  female  again  on  the  nest.  In  the  intcMMor 
this  ])ird  is  much  I'arei-,  though  I  saw  oiu>  at  Log  Cabin  June  20,  and 
another  at  Bennett  June  l!>.  We  saw  the  birds  occasionally  about  the 
lakes  (I  found  a  deserted  nest  on  Lake  Marsh),  and  once  or  twice 
aU)ngthe  river,  the  last  being  observed  near  the  White  River  July  31. 

81.  Falco  rusticolus.     (iray  Cyrfalcon. 

A  female  was  caught  in  a  steel  trap  set  on  a  post  at  St.  Michael 
September  21.  It-  stomach  contained  feathers.  The  irides  were 
vandj'ke  brown;  tip  of  liill  and  nails,  black;  tarsi,  toes,  cere,  gape, 
and  rest  of  bill,  pearl  gmy,  the  bill  changing  to  pearl  blue  on  maxilla 
near  commissure. 

82.  Falco  peregrinus  anatum,     Duck  Ilawk. 

At  Fort  Selkirk  th(>  character  of  the  Yukon  Valley  changes,  and 
the  high,  sandy  bhiH'.s  which  ha\e  l)een  constantly  visible  on  o.ie  bank 
or  the  other  are  freciuently  replaced  by  rocky  clili's  of  varying  height. 
Flying  about  oni^  of  these  clitt's  near  Stewart  River  July  HI  was  the 
first  duck  hawk  we  tioted.  Fnmi  that  ])()int  to  the  Yukon  Flats,  a 
few  miles  above  Cli'cle.  a  day  sc'ldom  j)assed  without  our  seeing  or 
hearing  them,  and  from  Camp  Davidson  to  Circle  1  think  there  was 
at  lea.st  on(i  breeding  pair  ev(>rv  1<»  miles.  We  .-^aw  a  numlx'r  of  their 
nests  on  shelves  on  the  cliils.  but  at  this  time,  the  first  half  of  August, 
the  young  had  flown. 

Osgood  secured  a  young  female  August  .">  on  the  cliH'  known  as 
'Old  Woman,' and  an  uduU  female  .\ugusl  7  near  the  Tahkandik  River, 
and  shot  several  others  which  he  failed  to  bag.  I  took  a  young  male 
from  a  family  on  'Castle  Rock'  .Vugust  T).     We  found  tht't  those  taken 


u 


[NO.  19. 


(XT.,  1900.) 


lUHDS    OK   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


uniufnccl 

Diidiiries — 

is  the  first 

America, 

and  o('ca- 


'specially 
occupied 
edar  on  ii 
f  the  tree 
parent 
<'  1  I  saw 
i>ast  100 
s  (»f  No.  4 
ale  n  ith  a 
)e  interior 
K'  i^o,  and 
al)out  the 
or  twice 
''hily  31, 


lie 


-  Michael 
des  were 
'1-0,  ffape, 
u  maxilla 


ig"o.s,  and 
y-n\  hank 
?•  height, 
was  the 
Flats,  a 
Jeinjf  or 
icrc  was 
of  their 
Auj^ust, 

lown  as 
cliivcr, 
ig  male 
le  taken 


4^- 


had  been  fcedinj^  on  marsh  hawks,  Alaska  jays,  whitc-winj(cd  (  ross- 
Idlls,  intermediate  sparrows,  and  varied  thrushes. 

I  saw  two  duck  hawks  near  Nulato  Aufjfust  )H,  and  a  tame  younfj 
bird  .spent  part  of  th»'  rainy  evcninjf  of  Aujj^ust  30  perched  on  the  back 
of  a  chair  in  the  hotel  at  St.  Michael.  Tlu'  cere  and  bill  of  the  youn<^ 
male  were  frencii  j,'ray,  chanj^anjf  to  l>lack  on  tip  of  bill  and  alonj; 
culmeii  and  cere  above;  tarsi  and  toes,  i)ale,  <frayish  <freen:  sole.s,  tarsi 
behind,  and  edj>es  of  .scutelhe  in  front,  yellow;  nails,  black. 

83.  Falco  peregrinus  pealei.     Peale  Falcon. 

One  Hew  around  the  (hfiri/i  when  we  were  some  distance  .south  of 
the  .Vleutian  Islands  and  out  of  sijfht  of  land  October  7. 

Si.  Falco  columbarius.     Pij^eon  Hawk. 

We  saw  a  pigeon  hawk  feeding  on  a  lai'ge  vole  near  C-harlie  Creek 
Augusts.  Osgood  took  a  young  male  at  a  point  \'2  miles  altove  Clirde 
August  13,  and  I  saw  one  at  the  Aphooii  mouth  .Vugust  2S. 

85.  Falco  columbarius  richardsoRi.     Richard.son  Merlin. 

At  Circle  August  IS  I  .shot  a  vouiig  female  merlin  which  is  inter- 
mediate  between  coluiDlxd'iux  and  rIelKirdsotil.  in  general  coloring 
both  above  and  below,  it  is  between  typical  exam))les  of  the  two 
forms  and  approaches  very  closely  a  specimen  of  rlchnrdsfni!  taken  ))y 
Captain  Bendire  at  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  December  3,  1S80,  and 
now  in  tht^  American  Museum  of  Natural  Hi.story.  ]My  bird  has  li^ht 
spots  t)n  outer  webs  of  primaries  and  six  light  bars  on  tail  similar  to 
tho.se  of  rlcJiardaoni^  but  the  bars  are  narrowi'r  and  mor(>  interrupted. 
The  crop  and  stonlach  contained  the  remains  of  a  red-l)acked  mouse. 
The  irides  were  Vandyke  l)rown;  cere,  greeni.sli-yellow;  maxilla,  slate 
black  at  tip,  changing  to  greenish-white  toward  cere  and  pale  frcnch 
graj'  at  conimi.ssure;  mandiltle,  pale  dull  greenish,  changing  to  pale 
freneli  gr;iy  'oward  tip  and  coinmis.sure;  tarsi  and  toe.s,  straw  yellow, 
the  later  iiii-lining  toward  sulphur  yellow;  nails,  black.  Mr.  Cant- 
well  w'  :i  ^  1'  the  'Osprey"'  of  having  xem  Richardson's  iiHirlin,  but 
does  not  .sUitc  that  h(>  took  specimens.  These  are  the  only  records  for 
this  birci  in  the  Yukon  Valley. 

86.  Falco  sparverius.     American  Sjmrrow  ITawk. 

We  .saw  this  species  at  Log  Cal)iii  .lune  14,  Semenow  Hills  July  10 
and  ^0,  near  the  Tatchun  River  .Inly  23.  near  Fort  Selkirk  July  26, 
about  30  miles  below  Fort  Selkirk  July  2S,  and,  1  think,  at  Circle 
August  If).  \\'e  took  specimens  on  ,Fuly  10  and  2S.  This  species  has 
not  previously  been  reported  from  along  the  Yukon. 

'O.^incy,  111,:.'.'^,  ().t.,1898. 


^:^% 


^    ^  .0.    ^        C 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


»  Hi 

m 

11, 


|40 


M 

2.0 


14    III  1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7'6)  872-4503 


iV 


iV 


^^ 


o 


'^ 


N^     *>V^\ 


rv 


^r. 


f^n 


k 


76 


NORTH   AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


PI 


i 


[Pandion  hnllaHm  carol iiiem<!)<.  Aiiu'i'icaii  Osprey,  While  the 
Htcaiiier  wjus  aiiohoird  near  Holy  CroH.**  Mission  August  25,  one  of  the 
passenjfcrs,  Mr.  J.  F.  Burkinan,  tired  at,  l)ut  failed  to  get,  a  large 
hawk  which  he  was  positive  was  this  spei-ies.  As  Mr.  Nelson  records 
it  from  the  Lower  Yukon,  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  Mr.  iiurkniau's 
identification.  I 

87.  Asio  aocipitrinas.     Short-eared  Owl. 

We  saw  a  short-eared  owl  Hying  overhead  at  St.  Michael  on  the 
evening  of  SepteniDer  7,  and  I  ttush(Hl  one  from  some  bushes  on  Whale 
Island  the  next  day.  Soptemlwr  it  I  set  three  steel  traps  near  St. 
Mi<'hael  on  poles  in  the  tundm.  One  of  them  failed  to  catch  anything, 
but  before  Septemlier  25  the  others  yielded  (t  short-eared  owls  and  the 
nails  of  another.  These  l)irds  had  liecn  feeding  on  mice  and  shrews. 
Osgo(Hl  shot  a  short-eared  owl  at  Unahiska  Octol)er  .5.  These  sp(><^i- 
mens  avemge  slightly  tlorker,  with  the  white  of  th«'  face  purer,  than 
fall  birds  from  New  Kngland. 

88.  Scotiaptex  cinerea.     (Jreat  (Jm}'  Owl. 

From  some  low  growth  on  a  steej*  hillside  at  Miles  Canyon  .July  11 
we  flushed  a  large  gray  owl  that  I  am  confident  was  this  species.  We 
saw  a  mounted  specimen  in  Dawson  August  2  and  I  was  told  at 
Circle  that  an  owl  answering  the  description  of  this  siM'cies  had  been 
killed  there  recently. 

89.  Nyctala  tengmalmi  richardsoni.     Richardson  Owl. 

While  lying  awake  under  my  mosijuito  netting  in  a  clearing  at  the 
base  of  the  Semenow  Hills  on  the  night  of  .Fuly  1!>  1  saw  a  small, 
round-headed  owl  alight  on  the  limb  of  a  dead  tree  only  a  few  feet 
away.  It  flew  lu'fore  I  could  bi-ing  my  gun  t«)  bear,  but  I  have  no 
doubt  it  was  this  species.  Osgood  took  a  young  bird  near  Rink  Rap- 
ids .Tuly  22.  T  was  told  at  Circle  that  a  small  owl  was  coi.wnon  there, 
and  that  one  had  been  caught  recently. 

90.  ?  MegaBCopt  aaio  kenniootti.     Kcnnicott  Screech  Owl. 

A  reddisli-l)rown  owl,  of  the  size  and  apjiearuaco  of  a  screech  owl, 
was  seen  by  Maddren  and  mysi>lf  at  Caribou  C'rossingon  the  afternoon 
of  June  27.  We  were  drawn  from  camp  l»y  its  pev  uliar  noti>s,  and 
saw  it  fly  from  a  poplar  across  an  opening  to  u  spruce  thicket.  Later 
that  day  Osgood  caught  a  glimpse  of  another,  or  pei'haps  tin;  same 
bird,  as  it  flew  from  the  top  of  a  small  poplar. 

91.  Bubo  virginianuB  palleBcenB.     WesU'rn  lloi-ned  Owl. 

Owl  peUets,  some  of  them  remarkably  large,  t-ontaining  chiefly 
bones  of  ral)bit.M,  ground  s(|uirrels,  and  red  s(|iiirrel.s,  were  found  in 
great  abmidance,  especially  at  Caribou  Crossing  and  on  Windy  Island, 
Lake  Tagish,  but  the  most  can^ful  huntiiig  l'aih>d  t(»  disclose  the  owls. 


\\\ 
al 
si 

s\ 

tl 


L 


[NO.  19. 


OCT.,  1000.] 


mUDH    OF   THK    YUKON   REGION. 


77 


While  the 

one  of  the 

fet,  H  hirge 

>ioii  records 

'iurknmn's 


iiK'I  on  the 
■«  on  Whale 

'«  near  St. 

anything, 

wis  and  the 

nd  shrewn. 
'Ii(>.s(>  s|)(>(>i. 
'"'••T,  than 


on  July  11 
I'ie.s.  We 
Hs  told  at 
■<  had  l)een 


"ig-iit  the 
V  a  small, 
I  few  feet 
'  have  no 
link  I{jip- 
'on  th(!i'e, 


<'<vh  owl, 
i*"t«'rnoon 
ott's,  and 
Lat(>r 
the  same 


■  «'lii«'fly 
ound  ill 
•  Island, 
K'  owls. 


On  Fifty-Mile  Kivei-,  near  Lake  Marsh  July  8,  we  heard  the  hoot- 
ing of  a  horned  owl;  and  at  our  camp  at  Lower  Lebarge  oiiO  flew  over, 
about  iiildnight  July  1<>,  and  lit  in  the  top  of  a  spruec  ju.st  out  of  gun- 
shot. I  hurried  after  it  ))ut  merely  succeeded  in  seeing  the  bird 
swoop  into  the  surrounding  gloom. 

At  our  camp  near  the  Tatchun  River  July  22  one  flew  by  and  set- 
tled for  an  instant  not  far  ott";  and  th(>  next  day  Osgood  saw  three 
extremely  light-colored  horned  owlsueai'i)}'.  We  also  heard  the  hoot- 
ing of  this  species  near  the  Yukon  at  the  following  phices:  Near 
Little  Salmon  River  July  21,  20  mile,;  below  Fort  Selkirk  July  27, 
20  miles  l)elow  the  Sdwyn  River  July  2!»,  near  the  Tatondu  River 
August  (),  about  15  miles  above  Circle  August  12,  and  opposite  Circle 
August  1+.  In  the  last  case  the  identification  is  not  without  doubt, 
but  the  notes  of  the  others  were  unmistaka))!*'. 

[Sunua  iihihi  ctiparooh.  American  Hawk  Owl.  At  Hennett,  June 
18-22,  a  bird  with  a  peeidiarly  weird  cry  flew  altout  tli«'  difl's  above 
our  camp  eviu'v  night.  By  a  pi'ocess  of  elimination  I  have  attributed 
the  .serenade  to  tliis  specie's.  ] 

1»2.  Ceryle  alcyon.     IJelted  Kingfisiier. 

This  l)ird  occurs  about  the  Yukon  lakes,  l)ut  in  small  numbers. 
Osgood  ,saw  one  at  liemiett  June  20;  I  heard  one  at  Caril)ou  Crossing 
June  2!>,  and  saw  anotlier  on  Lake  lj«0)ai"ge  Jidy  18. 

We  found  kingflshers  fairly  common  on  Fifty-Mile  Rivt  r,  and  still 
more  common  on  Thirty-Mile  River.  As  the  elifls  replaced  the  high 
banks  below  Fort  Selkirk  kingfishers  became  fewer,  and  non«^  were 
seen  after  August  4,  when  we  were  about  40  miles  below  Dawson. 
Young  aide,  to  fly  were  seen  near  Five-Finger  Rupids  .July  22. 

93.  Dryobates  villosus  leucomelas.     Northern  Hairy  Woodpecker. 

Osgood  took  a  single  hairy  woodpecker  on  Fifty-Mile  River  a  few 
miles  above  IN'iles  C/anyon  July  10. 

94.  ?  DryobateB  villosus  hyloscopns.     Cabanis  Woodpecker. 

Near  the  Little  Salmon  River  .luly  21  I  took  a  young  female  that 
corresponded  in  siz(»  and  plumage  with  some  young  of  this  subspecies. 
It  w  ^s  seated  in  tlu^  entrance  to  a  cavity  in  a  Iturnt  spruce.  This  is 
the  first  re«'or(l  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  the  Yukon  Basin. 

96.  Picoides  arcticus.     Arctic  I  hree-toed  Woodpc'ckcr. 

On  July  1  I  was  attiacted  by  the  loud  cries  of  a  young  bird,  and 
traced  the  sound  about  100  yards  through  a  spruce  grove  on  the  bank 
of  Six-Mile  River.  The  noise  i)roct>eded  from  a  full-fledged  young 
woodpecker  of  this  species  that  had  thrust  its  head  out  of  the  opening 
to  its  house  and  kept  up  a  continual  screaming.  With  Osgood's  assist- 
ance, the  nest  was  op«'ned  luit  oidy  this  young  liird  was  found.     The 


li.ll 


I 


■'^  f 


*1| 


1; 

i; 

; 
I 


i 


Si. 

m 
M 


78 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


h. 


entmnce  was  5  feet  8  inches  fi'oni  the  ground,  on  the  lower  side  of  a 
living,  slightly  leaning  spruce,  and  the  cavity  was  10  inches  deep. 
Osgood  shot  what  we  Itoth  supposed  was  one  of  the  parents,  for  it  cer- 
tainly came  in  answer  to  the  cries  of  the  young;  yet  this  bird  proved 
to  bo  a  typical  adult  male  of  /*.  ainerlenniui  ahwen.^ti^.  We  saw  no 
other  woodiHX^kers  there,  except  flickers. 

!><].  Fiooides  americanas  alascensis.     Alaska  Threc-tocd  Wotxlpecker. 

Osgood  found  the  remains  of  an  Alaska  three-toed  woodiwcker  at 
Haines  June  I,  and  T  shot  a  laying  female  near  (ilacier  June  1(>.  In 
the  Yukon  Valley  we  secured  one  on  Six-Mile  River;  three  on  Fiftj'^- 
Mile  River  above  Miles  Canyon  July  10-11,  two  of  them  young 
adults;  two  on  the  Lewes  River  between  Hig  Salmon  and  Little  Salmon 
rivers  July  ^0-21,  and  two  at  Circle,  August  l!>-20.  The  young  have 
whiter  backs  than  the  adults. 

1)7.  Sphyrapicus  ruber.     i?ed-breastcd  Sapsucker. 

I  took  an  adult  male  at  Skagway  Ma}'  31,  and  heard  what  I  suppose 
was  its  mate. 

98.  Colaptes  anratns  Intens.     Northern  Flickei'. 

We  saw  and  heard  flickers  several  times  at  (xlacier.  One,  which 
Osgood  flushed  from  a  hole  high  in  a  dead  pin(>  .Fune  8,  had  yellow  quills. 
In  the  Yukon  Valley  this  is  by  far  the  most  conunon  woodpecker. 
We  found  it  quitt^  regularly  from  Ijt)g  Cabin  to  Circle,  but,  like  most 
Yukon  birds,  it  was  shy.  At  CarilK)u  Crossing  June  27  Osgood  secured 
a  female  and  found  her  nest,  containing  8  j'oung  and  3  eggs,  in  a  cavity 
3  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  partly  dead  poplar.  At  Six-Mile  River 
we  found  a  nest  al)out  (>  feet  from  the  ground,  and  at  Lower  Lebarge 
July  17  I  found  7  well-fledged  young  in  a  cavity  about  5  feet  from  the 
ground  in  a  small  dead  tree  in  a  burnt  tract.  July  25  I  took  a  full- 
grown  young  near  Selkirk. 

Adult  flickers  from  Alaska  ave.iige  slightly  darker  tb:in  fnfrns  from 
Canada  and  farther  south,  the  wings,  tail,  and  liars  of  upperparts 
being  sonu'what  blacker,  aad  the  light  parts  more  olive  and  less  buffy. 
Three  young — oiui  from  near  Fort  Selkirk,  the  others  nestlings  from 
Lower  Lebarge— show  this  difference  in  a  marked  degree,  having  the 
wings,  tail,  and  bars  of  upperparts  deep  Idack,  and  the  ground  color 
above  smoky  olive,  instead  of  burt"y  olive  as  in  /iifcm;  they  are  even 
darker  than  the  young  of  dimitnx  from  Florida.  But  the  slightness 
of  the  difference  shown  by  the  adults,  the  small  number  of  sjiecimens 
from  Alaska,  and  the  possibility  that  the  plumage  of  the  thret>  young 
ma}'^  have  l»een  discolored  by  the  burnt  trees  wlH>re  they  wei'e  found  — 
though  microscopic  examination  shows  no  sign  of  this — make  their 
separation  as  a  subspecies  inadvisable  at  present. 


m 


(HT.,1'J00.1 


B1KD3    OF   THE    YUKON    RKOION. 


79 


W).  ChordeilesVirginianns.     Nighthawk. 

From  Caribou  CroHsing,  whore  1  .shot  two  foiiiah\s  tlune  27,  until 
aft(M'  passiiiff  the  mouth  of  th»^  Tat<'hun  River  .luly  24,  we  met  with 
nighthawitH  on  numerous  occasions.  I  took  an  adult  male  at  White 
Horse  Rapids  Juh'  11.  These  birds  were  very  fat,  as  might  l)e  expected 
from  the  abundance  of  fl^'ing  insects.  They  are  slightly  darker  than 
virylnianm  from  the  East. 

ICH).  Selagphorus  rufus.     Rufous  Hununing)>ird. 

We  saw  a  rufous  hummingbird  on  '  Eagle  Island' at  Hocadeqiiadra 
May  28.  At  Glacier  Osgood  saw  one  June  (>,  and  on  .lune  10  I  found 
R  nest  with  two  slightly  incubated  eggs  3^  feet  from  the  ground  on 
the  })ranch  of  a  small  conifer  near  the  falls  of  the  river.  I  secured 
the  female,  and  also  one  of  two  males  which  1  saw  the  same  day  in  the 
open  country  below  Glacier.  On  Lake  Heiniett  we  saw  one  opposite 
West  Arm  June  24.  Mr.  George  G.  Cantwell  has  already  added- 
both  this  species  and  Chordeilen  virgtnlanws  to  the  Yukon  avifauna.' 

101.  Sayomis  saya  yakonensis.     Yukon  Phcebe. 
Sayonm  saya  yukoneunin  Bishop,  Auk,  XVII,  115,  April,  ISKX). 

Osgood  took  the  type  specimen  of  this  j)h(ebe  on  the  heights  above 
Glacier  June  8,  and  T  saw  one  on  tlie  mountainside  sit  Bennett  June  17. 
We  next  met  the  bird  about  some  cliffs  below  Fort  Selkirk  .July  26,  and 
aftc^r  tills  saw  family  parties  almost  daily.  Near  Stewart  River  July 
81,  we  saw  a  pair  about  their  nest  on  the  face  of  a  dift'  a  few  feet 
above  the  water.  After  passing  Charlie  Creek  August  10,  we  saw 
no  more  until  we  reached  Circle,  where  I  killed  a  young  one  August 
19.  Full-grown  young  were  taken  July  30.  The  note  is  harsh,  some- 
what resembling  that  of  C(»iti>piix  rlchtir(honi\  but  louder  and  shriller. 
We  found  the  l)irds  only  altout  the  cliffs,  or  the  steep,  grass-grown 
banks  of  the  Yukon,  a  favorite  perch  being  rocks  along  the  shore. 
Those  we  met  in  August  seemed  to  ))e  migrating  up  the  river. 

102.  ContopuB  borealis.     Olivc^sided  Flycatcher. 

At  Six-Mile  River  1  took  a  pair  July  1,  the  female  :)f  which  had 
Knished  laying.  A  bird  which  I  heard  near  Hennett  .lune  20,  and  a 
large  flycatcher  which  I  shot,  but  could  not  rind,  at  Caribou  Crossing 
June  25,  I  believe  were  this  species. 

103.  ContopuB  riohardsoni  saturatuB.    Alaska  Wood  Pewee. 
CinilojiuK  rich(tr(lKi))ii  .•oiliirittiiK  Hislii)]),  Auk,  XVII,  11(1,  April,  MtOO. 

Osgood  took  a  wood  pewee  at  Skagway  May  30,  and  I  two  males  at 
Haines  June  2.  In  the  Yukon  Valley,  frcmi  Windy  Island,  Lake 
Tugish,  where  I  took  a  u\',\\o  June  30,  initil  we  passtnl  Little  Salmon 
River  July  21,  we  often  heard  this  bird's  *pee-ah '  ctuning  from  the 


t  :i 


III 


'Osprey,  III,  25,  Oct.,  IHitM. 


p 

f: 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

; 

- 
i 

1  :; 

t    : 

1 

II 

i| 

k 

80 


NORTH    AMKKICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


woodi'd  banks.  Wo  next  .saw  the  bird  al)out  12  mile.  *al)ovc>  Circle, 
where  1  took  a  pair  Augu.st  14.  It  wa.s  more  common  at  Mile,s  Can- 
yon than  elsewhere  on  the  Yukon,  and  here  on  July  ii  '^  found  an 
uniini.shed  nest  (which  resembled  that  of  (,'.  richariUoni)  in  the  fork 
of  a  half-dead  poplar  al)out  10  feet  from  the  ground.  No  form  of 
wood  powee  ha,s  previously  been  recorded  from  the  Yukon. 

104.  Er.pidonaz  trailli  alnornm.     Alder  Flycatcher. 

We  first  ^ound  this  species  July  26  at  Fort  Selkirk,  where  the  Pelly 
River,  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  joining  the  Lewes,  forms  the 
Yukon,  and  hardly  lost  it  again  until  we  reached  Circle;  later  I  heard 
one  15  miles  below  Fort  Yukon  on  August  21.  Wherever  wo  landed 
wo  found  this  or  the  Hammond  flycatcher  in  tho  alders  and  willows. 
Full-grown  young  in  juvenile  plumage  were  bikcn  on  August  5.  The 
adults  are  apparently  typical  <///*'-»/'*////,  having  the  greener  upperparts, 
more  conspicuous  wing  bars,  and  slK)rter  bill  of  this  form. 

105.  Empidonaz  hammondi.     Hammond  Flycatcher. 

We  saw  several  Haimuond  flycatchcn-s  at  Skagway,  and  collcct*^d 
three.  I  took  one  at  Glacier  Juno  8,  and  another  on  a  hill  above 
Caribou  Cro.ssing  June  26.  After  this  we  did  not  again  meet  with 
the  bird  until  about  15  miles  l)elow  Solwyn  River,  where  0.sgood  shot 
a  young  one  July  29.  From  that  point  to  Chai'lie  Creek  it  was  almost 
equally  conmion  with  Empidonax  t.  alnorum,  frequenting  tho  same 
localities;  l)ut  after  passing  Charlie  Creek,  August  9,  wo  .saw  no  more 
of  it.  Tho  young  secured  were  moiling.  The  male  collected  at 
Carilx>u  Crosfung  is  unusually  pale  for  IkiiiiiikukJI,  but  this  is  doubtless 
tho  result  of  wear,  as  the  same  thing  is  shown  in  Coiitopm  mtunUiUi 
and  Hyloclclda  almoi.    • 

106.  Pica  pica  hndsonica.     American  Magpie. 

Maddren  saw  a  pair  at  Caribou  Crossing  .lime  26,  and  Osgood  found 
their  deserted  nest.  At  Fort  Selkirk  July  26  I  took  two  young — 
male  and  female — wh ich  had  just  a.ssumed  first  winter  plumage.  Tiuy 
were  feeding  about  the  houses  of  the  town.  1  was  told  that  another 
young  bird  had  been  seen  there  recently. 

107.  Cyanooitta  stelleri.    Steller  tJay. 

Osgood  found  tho  remains  of  a  Steller  jay  in  the  woods  at  Haines 
June  1. 

108.  Perisoreas  oanadensis  fumifrons.    Alaska  Jay. 

We  first  met  this  bird  at  Log  Cabin,  >oted  it  also  at  Bennett  and 
Ca)'ibou  Crossing,  and  found  it  common  from  Lake  Marsh  to  Circle, 
generally  in  families.  lietwocn  White  River  and  Circle  it  was  less 
common  than  farther  up  the  Yukon.     1  saw  one  15  miles  above  Fort 


"  1 


w\ 


[NO.  19. 


0<T.,lUtll).J 


BIRDS    OF    THK    YUKON    KKdlON. 


81 


K)vo  Circle, 
Miles  Caii- 
^  found  an 
in  tlie  fork 
No  form  of 


re  the  Pelly 
,  forms  the 
iter  I  heard 
r  we  hmded 
,nd  willows, 
[list  5.  The 
upperpurts, 


id  collected 
hill  a})ove 
1  meet  with 
3sjrood  shot 
t  was  almost 
ig  the  same 
aw  no  more 
collected  at 
is  douhtless 
u«  mturattus 


sgood  found 
ivo  young — 
lagc.  Tiny 
hat  another 


:)  at  Haines 


ionnett  and 

li  to  Circle, 
it  was  less 
above  Fort 


Yukon,  heard  .several  at  Jlendi'icks  Station  August  2i>,  and  saw  one  at 
St.  Michael  September  IH. 

Adults  had  complet<Hl  the  summer  molt  by  July  20;  the  young  were 
in  full  juvenile  plumage  on  June  20,  and  in  tir.st  wint«u"  plumage  on 
August  20.  The  molt  is  complete  in  tlu*  adults,  while  in  the  young 
the  wings  and  tail  remain  unchanged. 

The  adults  collected  are  all  intermediate  )>etwe(>M  cn/tifnUK  iind 
fnmifrom;  each  has  a  black  orl)ital  ring,  but  this  is  broader  in  those 
from  Circle.  All  those  in  juvenile  plumage  have  the  head  dull  plum- 
beous, like  the  l)ack,  as  mfuiitifrom. 

lOiK  Corvus  corax  principaliB.     Northern  Kaven. 

Of  all  the  ))irds  we  met  the  raven  occurred  mo.st  regularly.  On 
our  entire  trip  down  the  Yukon  hardly  a  day  |)assed  without  our  .see- 
ing tue  birds  in  twos  and  threes.  We  saw  a  few  at  Wrangell,  found 
them  more  common  at  Wrangell  Narrows,  saw  .several  at  Skagway, 
and  noticed  the  wing  of  one  at  (ilacier.  A  few  were  noted  ai-ro.ss 
White  Pass  at  Middle  Luke  and  they  were  iibundant  at  Log  Cal)in. 
A  flock  of  at  least  200  was  observed  at  the  latter  place  June  20,  and 
another  of  50  at  Benniitt  two  days  later.  During  Sej)teml»er  at  St. 
Michael  we  .saw  them  frecjuently,  but  never  in  large  lumibers.  At 
Unalaska  they  were  a))undant  and  remarkably  tame. 

An  adult  taken  on  June  20  is  in  full  molt;  a  young  taken  July  22 
is  in  juvenile  plumage;  on  one  taken  August  2;{  the  Itody  feathers  of 
the  first  winter  plumage  have  replaced  most  of  the  juvenile,  iiid  the 
change  is  complete  in  one  taken  September  I*. 

f  rW/vvw  unicricanux.  American  Crow.  I  was  told  l»y  one  of  the 
prospectors  whom  1  met  on  a  Yukon  steamer  that  the  crow,  as  well  as 
the  northern  mven.  occurs  at  the  heail  waters  of  the  Porcupine.] 

110.  Corvus  caarinus.     Northwest  Crow. 

Common  on  'Eagle  Island'  at  liocade(|uadra,  where  Osgood  found 
a  Hnished  but  empty  nest  May  28.  Crows  were  very  common  near 
Vancouver  June  20,  l>ut  we  saw  none  after  leaving  Boiadctjuadra. 

111.  Scolecophagus  carolinus.     liu.sty  Blackbird. 

Two  blackliirds  which  1  saw  at  Log  Cal)in  .lune  ir»  were  ju'obably 
this  species,  and  1  was  told  that  rusty  blackbirds  had  been  abundant 
there  a  few  days  i)efore  our  visit. 

Osgood  took  a  .specimen  near  Fort  Yukon  August  21,  and  1  saw  a 
small  Hock  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  August  2.s.  I  was  informed  that 
these  birds  ])reed  in  large  numbers  on  the  tundra  by  the  Kuskokwim 
and  at  the  head  of  the  Porcupine. 

\('o(rot/i mutates  venpertlmis  iiiontanxn.     Western  Evening  (irosbeak. 
A  prospector  told  me  that  a  gi'osbeak,  whose  descriijtion  an.^wered 
4494— No.  19 1> 


1;|I 


82 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


(KO.  1». 


)  R 


that  of  this  sijecics,  wa«  common  on  the  Copper  Uivcr.     He  ausurcd 
me  it  was  not  the  pine  grosbeak,  which  ho  know  well.] 

[Pinicol/i  enticleator  ahmceimH.  Alaska  Pine  Grosbeak.  A  re«l  bird 
with  dark  wings — ceitainly  not  a  crossl)ill — which  I  saw  at  Ijake  Marsh 
July  8  was  probably  a  pine  grosl)eak,  but  we  did  not  meet  with  any 
others  during  our  trip.  I  was  told  this  bird  occurs  along  the  Porcu- 
pine.] 

112.  Loxia  cnrvirostra  minor.     Ued  Orossbill. 

Osgood  took  a  red  cross})lll  and  saw  another  at  Unalaska  October  5. 
We  did  not  take  any  along  the  Yukon,  but  1  feel  positive  that  a  red 
male  crossbill  which  I  shot  at  Lake  Lebarge  July  1(5,  but  could  not 
find,  belonged  to  this  species. 

lis.  Loxia  leucoptera.     White-winged  Crossbill. 

Crossbills  in  flocks  of  from  half  a  dozen  to  one  hundred  individuals 
were  often  seen  from  Lower  Le))arge  to  Charlie  Village  July  IG  to 
August  11.  Most  of  these  doiks  were  probal)ly  Umcopteni^  and  some 
certainly'  were.  They  were  exceedingly  restless,  and  the  only  ones 
taken  (besides  those  found  in  the  crop  of  a  duck  hawk),  were  three 
young  at  Camp  Davidson  August  5-(). 

114.  Leuoosticte  griseonacha.    Aleutian  Leucostictc. 

We  saw  a  number  of  Aleutian  leucostictes  on  St.  George  October  3. 
At  Unalaska  I  .«iw  a  flock  of  about  tweiity  and  another  of  two  young 
October  5,  and  secured  an  adult  and  oni'  of  the  young.  The  latter  is 
in  juvenile  plumage,  feathers  of  the  first  winter  appearing  only  ou  the 
sides  of  the  chest. 

115.  Leuoosticte  tephroootis  littoralis.    Hepburit  Leucosticte. 

We  found  this  bird  only  at  White  Pass  Summit,  where  Osgood  took 
two  males  and  I  one  female  .June  13.  It  is  doubtless  this  species  of 
Leuamticte  to  which  Cautwell  refers  in  his  pajier  ou  the  'Birds  of  the 
Yukon  Trail." 

110.  Acanthis  homemaimi  exilipes.     Iloary  Ucdpoll. 

I  secured  two  young  from  a  flock  aljout  15  miles  above  Circle 
August  13,  and  Osgood  one  from  a  flock  at  Circle  August  l!>.  1  saw 
several  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  August  27,  and  we  found  them  rather 
common  in  small  flocks  'it  St.  Michael  during  Scptenil)er.  All  taken 
were  young  and  were  molting  from  juvenile  to  first  winter  plumage. 

117.  Acanthis  linaria.    Redpoll. 

We  saw  several,  usually  in  pairs  and  very  shy,  at  Hennctt  Juno  17. 
One  stopped  for  an  instant  on  a  bush  close  to  our  tent.  Near  Charlie 
Village  1  saw  a  male  in  high  plumage  August  11. 


'Ospn-y,  III,  26,  Oct..  1898. 


m 


(NO.  19. 

He  aasured 

A  I'ctl  bird 
Lake  Mai\sh 
ect  with  any 
r  the  Porcu- 


a  October  5. 

e  that  a  red 

it  fould  not 


1  individuals 
J  July  16  to 
■a,  and  some 
le  only  ones 
,  were  three 


:e  October  3. 
f  two  young 
The  latter  is 
f  only  ou  the 

te. 

Osgood  took 
lis  species  of 
Birds  of  the 


ibove  Circle 

it  1!».     1  saw 

them  rather 

All  taken 

ier  plumage. 

ett  Juno  17. 
^ear  Charlie 


OCT.,1»00.1 


BIRUH   OF   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


83 


118.  SpinuB  pinns.     Pine  Siskin. 

A  very  n^stless  family  of  this  species  was  seen  on  Windy  Island, 
Lake  Tagish,  Jun«'  -M),  and  Osgood  secured  one.  1  .saw  one  at  Lower 
Lebarge  July  lis,  and  took  one  from  a  small  Hock  near  the  Selwyn 
River  July  'J!>,  and  Osgood  one  from  a  large  ttock  near  Sixty-Mile 
Creek  July  31.  We  .saw  a  large  flock  near  Dawson  August  1,  a  few 
near  Forty-Mile  Creek  August  4,  and  0.sgood  saw  one  1.5  miles  above 
Circle  August  lii.  Flocks  of  either  this  l»ird  or  redpolls  were  heard 
near  the  Tatondu  River  and  Charlie  Ci'cek  Aagust  7-8.  I  find  uo 
former  record  of  this  species  for  the  Yukon  Valley. 

IISJ.  Passerina  nivalis.     Snowflake. 

At  White  Pass  Summit  I  shot  a  female  June  12  that  had  an  old 
fmcture  of  the  wing,  which  had  healed  in  such  a  maniuu'  as  to  make 
long  flight  impossibl  I  was  informed  snowflakes  had  be(>n  very 
abundant  there  earlier  in  the  3'ear.  At  St.  Michael  I  saw  two  Septem- 
bei'  16,  and  a  flock  of  al)out  twenty  September  19.  Osgood  took  one 
from  a  small  flock  September  25,  and  I  three  on  September  28. 

Snowflakes  were  common  on  St.  George  October  3,  but  the  two 
young  taken  ( i  and  9 )  are  indistinguishal)le  from  those  from  St. 
Michael,  and  have  bills  smaller  than  the  young  of  tuwwsendi. 

120.  Calcarius  lapponicas  alascensis.     Alaska  Longspui'. 

I  saw  seveml  small  flocks  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  August  27,  and 
secured  one  specimen.  A  few  were  found  at  St.  Michael  the  last  of 
August,  and  large  flocks  there  Septemlter  1-2.  After  that  several 
were  seen  almost  every  day  until  September  22,  when  the  last  were 
taken.  Osgood  saw  several  at  St.  George  October  3,  and  I  saw  one 
at  Unalaska  October  5. 

121.  Ammodramus  sandwichensis.     Sandwich  Sparrow. 

A  few  were  .seen  at  Unahiska  October  5-6,  and  two  young  secuivd. 

122.  Ammodramas  sandwichensis  alaudinus.  Western  Savanna 
Sparrow. 

I  saw  several  .savanna  s])arrows  on  the  marshes  of  C/hilkat  Inlet 
June  1,  and  we  took  one  at  Haines,  one  at  Skagway,  and  two  at 
Glacier.  Several  pairs  were  found  on  the  marshes  near  Log  Cal)in, 
a  few  at  Caribou  Crossing,  and  one  pair  on  an  island  in  Lake  Tagish. 
They  were  fairly  common  about  Lake  Marsh,  and  Osgood  found  a  set 
of  four  eggs  there,  securing  the  female  July  5.  After  leaving  Luke 
Marsh  these  sparrows  were  not  seen  again  until  we  reached  the  Alaska 
l)oundary,  when  1  took  a  young  August  5.  Osgood  took  a  young 
specimen  from  a  flock  near  Charlie  Village  August  10,  and  young 
were  common  at  Circle  August  14-19.  1  saw  a  number  at  the 
Aphoon  mouth  August  27-28,  and  we  found  a  few  at  St.  Michael  up 
to  September  11. 


Hi  \ 


'r  i 


84 


NOKTU    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  10. 


i= 


ti  1*' 


1  ; 

; 

i 

1 

i  1 

! 

Hrt'tHliiijf  spociiiu'iiH  from  the  Yukon  liiko  ivjfioii  arc  iiidi.stinguiwh- 
iihlc in sizo luid color  h\m\<il(iii(lliii(x  from  North  Dakota.  Those  from 
Haines  and  (rlacier  are  larjjer  in  l>ill  and  other  measurements, slightly 
darker,  and  more  butly,  but  evidently  belong  to  the  same  form.  A 
male  taken  at  Skajjfway  May  81  is  identieal  in  eolor  with  a  female 
mvdiiiia  t4iken  in  (./onneetieut  aliout  the  same  date,  but  in  measure- 
ments interm«>diate  between  f<(tiuhiuchr)}«!x  and  <i/<nt<f/niM,  Young 
birds  from  St.  Miehael  and  the  Yukon  below  Cami)  Davidson  reseni- 
l)le  closely  the  young  of  mt'tnuiH  in  coloring,  and  have  bills  slightly 
shorter  and  deeper  than  adult  olaadhnm  from  the  Yukon  lakes,  but 
are  larger  and  have  longer  wings  and  tails  than  the  latter. 

128.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys  gambeli.'     Intermediate  Sparrow. 

Descending  from  the  bleak,  snow-covered  rocks  of  White  Pass,  wo 
reached  at  Portage  .fune  14  a  country  of  a  more  luxuriant  vegetation. 
Here  the  intermediate  sparrow  appeared,  and  it  stayed  with  us  con- 
stantly until  we  left  tJirde,  August  20.  At  Fort  Gilibon  August  23 
I  saw  one  adult  and  one  young.  With  the  exception  of  the  bank 
swallow,  this  is  the  most  abundant  species  inhabiting  the  Yukon  Btisin. 

At  Log  Cabin  June  20  I  took  a  laying  female;  on  Windy  Island 
June  HO  Osgood  took  a  young,  able  to  tly,  and  at  Lower  Lebarge  I 
shot  one  molting  into  first  winter  plumage.  We  found  young 
abundant  in  this  plumage  at  Circle  August  15-20,  but  saw  no  adults. 
This  species  has  two  distinct  songs.  That  most  often  heard  is  a  very 
mediocre  performance,  but  the  other,  which  I  heard  in  its  full  p<;rfec- 
tion  onl}'  on  a  hill  at  Caribou  Crossing  June  2G,  and  about  2  a.  m.  on 
Fifty-Mile  River  July  S>,  possesses  all  the  sweetness  and  clearness  of 
the  song  of  Z.  tdh'u'olliH.  By  July  15  the  song  season  was  practically 
over,  but  I  heard  one  bird  singing  as  lat(i  as  August  10. 

124.  Zonotrichia  coronata.     Golden-crowned  Sparrow. 

Osgood  found  the  golden-crowned  sparrow  on  the  heights  above 
Glacier  rFune  5.  It  was  common  at  White  Pass  summit  June  11-14, 
and  was  the  oidy  bird  we  saw  along  the  trail  to  Portage  June  14.  We 
thought  we  heard  it  singing  at  Log  Cabin.  The  song  does  not  equal 
those  of  others  of  the  genus.  Osgood  found  an  almost  finished  nest 
in  a  conifer  at  Summit  Lake  June  12.  It  was  composed  of  sticks  and 
moss,  lined  with  grass,  and  placed  about  2^  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  next  day  I  shot  a  female  that  contained  an  egg  ready  for  the  shell. 

125.  Spizella  monticola  ochracea.     Western  Tree  Sparrow. 

At  Haines  I  took  a  female  June  2.  At  Caribou  Crossing  we  took 
two  pairs  .fune  29,  one  of  them  with  a  nest  containing  three  fresh  ^^g'i. 
The  nest  was  buried  in  the  moss  at  the  base  of  a  clump  of  willows  in 

'  ThiH  Ih  tlui  HiMjcicH  formerly  known  as  Zonotrichui  leucoj)liryn  intermedia  Kidgway. 
8W  Uidgway,  Auk,  XVI,  36-37,  1899. 


MA 


'■■v^Jfc.- 


{X,T.,I«)0.] 


BIRDS   op   xnE    YITKON    REOION. 


Rf) 


ii  willow  swittiip  near  the  liik*>,  tiiid  it  was  r()iii|K).s('(l()f  liii<>,  dry  grasses, 
liiM^d  with  feathtTH,  covcri'd  oxtcriialiv  with  a  thick  coatiiifif  of  liviii}^ 
moHH.  Tiic  off^s,  which  avcrajfc  (>,hO  |»y  u.57  inches,  arc  pale  pea  <jreen. 
heavily  mottled  over  the  iMitire  surface  with  reddish  fawn  color.  At 
Lake  Marsh  .July  H  I  took  an  adult  feinah;,  and  15  miles  above  Circle 
August  8  a  young  bird  molting  from  the  stT-ipcd  juvenile  into  the  fidl 
plumage.  The  species  was  alumdant  at  Circle,  and  a  ruunl)er  were 
seen  on  an  island  15  miles  alM)ve  Fort  Yukon  August  21.  I  saw  one 
at  tho  Aphoon  mouth  August  27,  and  noticed  seven  during  Se])tenilier 
at  St.  Michael,  taking  the  last  S«'pteml»er  21. 

12«».  Spizella  socialis  arizonse.     Westei-n  Chijiping  Spairow. 

We  found  this  species  almost  daily  from  LogCal>in  to  Dawson,  or 
between  Juno  16  and  August  1.  In  point  of  numbers  it  follows  the 
intermediate  sparrow  ar;l  the  slate-coloi-ed  junco.  It  was  last  o))served 
al)Out  10  miles  below  Dawson  August  8,  but  the  range  of  the  species 
may  extend  much  farther  north,  as  a  large  Hock  seen  near  the  Selwyn 
Rivei"  July  2i>  showed  that  the  fall  migration  had  begun. 

We  found  a  nest  with  four  eggs  at  Lak(»  Bennett  June  24,  large 
young  in  a  ni'st  on  Lake  Tagish  June  30.  Young  able  to  Hy  were  met 
with  at  Lake  Marsh  July  5,  and  a  s(>t  of  three  «'ggs  on  Thirty-Mile 
River  July  18.  The  nests  were  in  small  spruces,  onc^  -i  inches  and 
another  about  3  feet  from  the  ground. 

Yukon  chipping  sparrows,  females  especially,  average  darker  than 
typical  nr!zi»i(V,  but  coincide  in  measurements.  Turnei'  reports  this 
species  from  Fort  Yukon.' 

127.  Junco  hyemalis.     Slate-colored  Junco. 

From  Log  Cabin  to  Circle  this  bird  occui-s  everywhere,  contest- 
ing with  the  intermediate  sparrow  for  supremacy  in  numbers.  Two 
broods  are,  I  think,  regularly  reared.  Females  taken  at  Log  Cabin 
and  Bennett  had  finished  laying.  On  Windy  Island  .Iiuie  3(1  1  shot 
a  young  bird  al)le  to  fly,  and  on  the  east  shore  of  Ijake  Tagish 
the  following  day  saw  one  pair  building  a  nest  and  another  fi>eding 
young.  Maddi'on  found  a  nest  with  four  fresh  (>ggs  at  Lake  Marsh 
July  4,  Osgood  one  with  three  fnvsh  eggs  at  Lower  Lebarge  Jul}'  !♦», 
and  I  one  with  five  young  on  Thirty-Mile  Hiver  July  18,  and  another 
with  four  just  hatched  young  near  the  Tatchun  River  July  23.  Ii}- 
.Iidy  20  young  in  sti'iped  plumage  were  coimuon,  and  August  2  I  took 
one  near  Dawson  molting  into  first  winter  plumage.  Tho  slate-colored 
juiu'o,  the  intermediate  s[)arrow,  and  the  western  chipping  sparrow 
were  most  common  about  brush  heaps  left  l)y  lumbermen,  weed-grown 
clearings  resulting  from  forest  fires,  and  cal)ins  of  the  towns.  Every 
nest  found   was  sunk   in  the  ground  to  the  rim   in  an   open  place 

'(.\)iitril..  Nat.  Hist.  Ala.skii,  174,  1SH(}. 


\\ 


II      <■ 


i  .1 


86 


NORTH    AMEBirAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


undor  II  we«'d  or  ii  tuMMix^k  of  gnw.s.  One  contiiiiKHl  u  few  dark  hairs 
besides  the  usiuil  Hue  ^rtisM  liiiiii);.  Twenty  luliiitu  ditTcM*  from  eustern 
Muniiner  Hpe(;iiiiuiis  of  hijemalltt  only  in  lmvin)ir  in  ))otli  t^uxcs  hills  avcr- 
agin^r  0.02  in(^ii  longer  (measured  from  the  no.stril). 

128.  Junoo  hyemalii  oregonns.    Oregon  .Iiinco. 

Toleml)iy  common  at  Skagway  and  more  .so  at  Haine.«».  At  Skagway 
I  took  a  female  and  four  fresh  eggs  May  31.  The  nest,  of  dried  grass 
lined  with  short,  white  hairs,  was  sunk  in  the  ground  and  concealed  by 
dead  weeds  under  a  birch  only  about  oO  feet  al>ove  the  water  of  Lynn 
Canal. 

120.  Jnnco  hysmalis  connectens.    Shufeldt  Junco. 

Maddren  took  •.  female  at  Glacier  June  7,  a  male  was  taken  near 
White  Pass  City  June  J»,  and  Maddren  saw  seveml  near  there  that 
Aay.  I  took  a  male  below  Glacier  June  10,  and  .saw  and  heard  a 
numlicr  singing  ..  few  hundred  feet  above  White  Pass  C'ity,  where  the 
spruce  woods  gave  place  to  more  open  country.  Theii'  .song  is  quite 
distinct  from  that  of  onf/otnifi.    This  is  a  new  record  for  Alaska. 

180.  Helospiza  melodia  raflna.    Sooty  Song  Sparrow. 

We  heard  .seveml  singing  at  Skagway  May  31,  and  Osgood  saw 
some  at  Haines  June  2.  At  Haines  I  took  a  male  June  1,  and  a  pair, 
the  female  of  which  had  finished  laying,  June  2. 

131.  Molospiza  cinerea.     Aleutian  Song  Sparrow. 

Abundant  at  Unalaska,  October  5-7,  freijuenting  the  roofs  of  ))uild- 
ings,  luml)er  piles,  wharves,  beaches,  and  weeds  of  the  level  countr}' 
and  hillsides.  The  males  were  singing  con.stantly,  their  song  having 
the  usual  .song  sparrow  character,  l)ut  not  the  usual  strength  or  Iwauty. 

132.  Helospiza  lincolni.     Lincoln  Sparrow. 

At  Log  Cal)in  June  1.5  we  saw  what  was  apparently  a  Lincoln 
sparrow.  Osgood  took  a  female  and  a  set  of  H\'e  fresh  eggs  near 
Lake  Marsh  July  5,  I  another  female  on  the  w(>st  shore  July  8,  and 
we  heard  seveml  singing  near  the  lake.  The  nest  found  was  composed 
of  coarse  grass  lined  with  tine,  and  was  in  a  tuft  of  grass  in  a  swamp, 
about  4  inches  above  the  water.  We  agiiin  met  this  si«^cies  at 
Lower  Lebargc,  near  Fort  Selkirk,  near  the  White  River,  at  Camp 
David.son,  at  Charlie  Village,  15  miles  above  Circle,  and  at  Circle, 
where  one  was  taken  August  IJ).  July  27  a  full-grown  young  was 
taken,  and  August  12  one  that  had  almost  finished  molting  into  win- 
ter plumage. 

133.  Helospiza  lincolni  striata.     Forbush  Sparrow. 

A  Lincoln  sparrow  which  0.sgood  saw  at  Haines  June  I  should  be 
referred  to  the  northwestern  subspecies. 


m 


OCT.,  won.] 


BIRDS    OF   THK    YITKON    RKOION. 


87 


134.  Pauerella  iliaoa.     Fox  Sixiri-ow. 

A  wave  of  wiwrrows  oci  urcd  ut  Circle  AufjUHt  1J>  just  iiftor  a  frosty 
night,  and  among  other  Hjx'cics  I  saw  a  single  fox  sparrow.  TIk*  liird 
was  too  close  to  leave  identification  doubtful. 

135.  Pauerella  iliaoa  townsendi.'    Town.send  Fox  Spnrrov  . 

Osgood  .saw  one  at  Skagway,  and  we  noticed  several  at  (ii-icier  whit-h 
wore  exceedingly  shy.  Osgood  collected  two  at  (tIhi  '(  r  .]wu\  S-it,  one 
of  which  wa.s  too  badly  shot  to  preserve;  the  ou;cr  Mr.  llidgwuy 
pronounc       <  mewhat  nearer  this  form  than  minccten^. 

V6(i.  Petroohelidon  lanifrons.    ClifF  Swallow. 

This  species  was  common  at  Log  Cabin  June  l.")  and  20.  At  Cari- 
bou Crossing  we  .saw  a  few  June  2!>,  probably  members  of  th(^  .small 
colony  breeding  on  the  cliffs  of  an  island  in  Lake  Tagish  July  1.  We 
next  .saw  cliff  swallows  near  the  Hootalinqua  lliver  .luly  1!».  and  frcm 
this  point  to  a  few  miles  above  Dawson,  Augu.st  1,  we  fre(|uently  met 
with  colonics  of  varying  size,  the  large.st  being  near  White  River. 
Their  nests  were  attached  to  cliffs  Ixtrdering  the  river,  except  at  Fort 
Selkirk,  where  they  were  breeding  under  the  eaves  of  liou.ses.  Full- 
fledged  A'oung  were  taken  July  25,  and  1  think  the  al)sence  of  this  spe- 
cies Indow  Daw.son  was  due  to  their  having  already  migrated.  I  was 
told  that  l)oth  clifl'  and  bank  swallows  were  exceedingly  abundant 
along  the  Porcupine. 

137.  Hirundo  erythrogastra  unalaschkensis.'     Alaska  Swallow. 

A  few  were  flying  over  the  marshes  of  Chilkat  Inlet  June  1;  1  heard 
that  they  were  conunon  at  White  Pa.ss  (^ity  June  }t,  and  we  saw  two 
about  the  buildings  of  White  Pass  Summit  flune  10.  At  Log  Cabin 
they  were  conunon  on  June  14,  15,  and  20,  and  on  the  last  daU'  I  took 
a  male.  A  few  were  noticed  at  Bennett  June  l!>-21.  I  refer  all  .seei; 
to  this  8ub.species,  for  all  had  remarkably  long  tails.  The  single 
specimen  taken  had  a  length  of  7.5M>  inches,  wing  4. ((8  inches,  tail  4.10 
inches,  fork  of  tail  2.;^H  inches.  The  forehead,  lower  wing-coverts, 
and  aMomen  are  more  highly  colored  than  eastern  .>^"ins  of  I£  eri/t/uv- 
gastra,  and  the  shafts  of  the  long  tail  feathers  are  whitish. 

138.  Tachycineta  bicolor.    Tree  Swallow. 

I  saw  several  at  Skagway  May  31  and  June  3,  and  over  the  Chilkat 
marshes  June  1.  We  saw  others  near  Caribou  Crossing  June  2!);  one 
July  6  and  a  pair  July  7  at  Lake  Marsh;  and  several  at  Miles  Canyon 
July  11.  A  few  miles  above  Fort  Selkirk  July  25  I  .saw  .several  enter- 
ing and  leaving  an  old  flicker  hole  in  a  dead  spruce. 

'Auk,  XVII,  30,  Jan.,  1900. 

"Kept.  Fur-Seal  JiivoHtifrntioiiH,  189(V-97,  pt.  8,  4'22,  18$>9. 


ii 


IN 


ip^K— R- 


88 


NORTH    AMERICAN    PAITNA. 


(no.  19. 


vm 


i 


131>.  Tachycineta  thalassina.     Violot-jfrocii  Swallow. 

Mr.  Caiitw'jll '  has  already  added  this  species  to  the  ILst  of  ))ird8  known 
to  inhal)lt  the  Yukon  Valley.  We  saw  a  single  male  among  flocks  of 
bank  swallows  flying  ovei-  Fifty-Mile  River  above  Miles  Canyon  July 
11  and  another  between  White  Horse  Rjipids  and  Lake  Lobargo.  On 
July  IS  1  took  a  male  from  several  that  we  saw  near  Hootalinqua, 
and  at  the  Somenow  Hills  July  20  Osgood  secured  a  female,  finding 
her  nest  with  four  young  in  a  crevice  in  the  cliffs.  Maddren  shot  a 
young  July  28.  After  this  we  fre(iuently  saw  colonies  of  from  si,\ 
to  ten  birds  of  this  s|XK'ies,  and  one  near  White  Itivei*  that  niust  have 
contained  over  tifty. 

They  were  nesting  aliout  the  cliffs  as  a  rule,  l)ut  several  times  we 
saw  them  enter  holes  in  banks  similar  to  those  of  CUvlcola,  ripart'a, 
while  at  Fort  Selkirk  they  were  nesting  in  the  interstices  between  the 
logs  of  the  cabins.  We  often  met  with  small  colonies  until  within  15 
miles  of  Cirde,  out  after  August  5  they  kept  sojilgb  about  the  cliffs 
that  identification  was  po.ssible  only  by  their  characteristic  twitter. 
The  two  adult  males  have  green  rumps. 

14r().  Clivicola  riparia.     Bank  swallow. 

We  found  a  small  coloriv  nesting  at  the  northern  end  of  Lake 
Tagish  July  1,  and  a  larger  one  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Marsh  Jul3^ 
7,  but  we  were  entirely  unprepared  for  the  great  abundance  of  this 
species  on  Fifty-Mile  River  above  Miles  Canyon.  Th*"-.-  almost  every 
bunk  was  honeycombed  with  their  holes.  Along  the  re.-.»,  of  the  Yukon 
as  far  as  Circle  bank  swallows  were  common  and  often  a))undant,  but 
after  August  I  their  fornuu"  presence  was  generally  manifested  onl}' 
l»y  the  deserted  holes.  A.t  Circle  1  saw  about  thirty  August  17,  aiid 
a  single  bird  on  the  following  day.  Kggs  advanced  in  incubation 
were  found  Jidy  7,  and  by  the  22d  the  young  were  flying,  and  all 
acting  as  if  preparing  to  migrate.  As  it  grew  dusk  on  the  evening 
of  August  U  we  watched  a  large  Hock  which  circled  over  the  Yukon, 
rising  higliei-  with  each  revolution,  and  at  last  disappc^ared  toward 
some  mountains  due  south. 

141.  Ampelis  garrulus.     Bohemian  Waxwing. 

We  saw  several  on  Six-Mile  Hiver  .luly  1,  two  at  Lake  Marsh  Jvdy 
7,  one  on  Fifty-Mile  Ri\er  July  10.  two  pairs  (one  of  which  was 
secured)  at  Miles  Canyon  July  11,  one  at  Lowei-  Lcbarge  July  16,  two 
about  a  mile  apart  on  Thirty-Mile  River  Jidy  18,  and  four  near  the 
Selwyn  River  July  28.  We  took  two  adults  and  three  young  froiu  a 
flock  of  twenty  about  1.5  miles  below  the  Selwyn  .luly  21>,  and  four 
from  a  similiar  flock  near  Sixty-Mile  Creek  July  ;{1.  We  .saw  them 
again  at  the  Chandindu  River  August  4,  Camp  Davidson  August  .5, 

'OHprey,  111,  25,  <)<l.,  1S!(«. 


lW\ 


OCT.,  1900.] 


BIRDS    OF   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


89 


50  mile.s  ubovc  CMirlo  AiigiiHt  11,  and  15  miles  lower  Aujifu.st  12. 
The  female  taken  July  U,  which  lacked  the  wax  tips  on  the  second- 
arie.s,  contained  an  ogg  ready  for  the  shell.  The  young  re.seinhle  tho.se 
of  A.  cedrorum^  but  are  grayer,  have  less  white  on  the  ahdomcn,  no 
pale  streaking  above,  and  have  the  wings,  t^iil,  and  lower  tail- 
coverts  like  adult  ffarndux.  They  lack  the  cinnamon  suffusion  of  the 
head  of  the  adult,  have  only  a  few  l)lack  featheis  on  the  throat,  a 
much  shorter  crest,  the  wax-like  tips  of  the  .secondaries  pea<'h-)»lossom 
pink  instead  of  scarlet,  and  the  lower  tail-coverts  paler.  A  still 
younger  bird  than  the  two  described  is  ob.scurely  streaked  witii  whitish 
both  on  back  and  lower  parts.  On  one  of  the  young  the  wa.\  tips  are 
very  .small. 

In  habits  and  notes  the  Rohemian  waxwing  closely  resembles  the 
common  cedar  waxwing.  Two  males  that  we  noticed  while  descending 
Thirty-Mile  River  were  perched  on  the  topmost  sprays  of  tiiil  spruces, 
uttering  a  lisping  whi.stle  at  fretjuent  intervals.  One  of  them  flew 
after  a  pa.ssing  insect  in  the  manner  of  a  flycatcher.  Flock.s  were 
easih'  approached,  and  when  one  bird  was  shot  the  rest  would  scatter, 
and  each  would  alight  on  the  top  branch  of  some  spruce  and  utter  a 
characteristic  call  note.  This  not<%  which  we  often  heard  from  pass- 
ing flocks,  was  similar  to  the  whi.stle  just  mentioned.  The  birds  that 
we  collected  had  been  feeding  o?i  the  purple  l)erries  of  .some  uniden- 
tified plant. 

142.  Helminthophila  celata.     Orange-crowned  Warbler. 

Osgood  took  an  adult  male  at  Carilwu  Cro,ssing  June  20:  I  a  female 
and  two  young  20  miles  below  Fort  Selkirk  .fuly  27,  and  a  young  near 
Dawson  August  2.  Osgood  secured  an  adult  and  one  young  at  Camp 
Davidson  August  5  and  (5,  and  I  .saw  one  ycmng  15  miles  above  Fort 
Yukon  Augusf  21.  All  taken  were  in  alder.-*  or  willows  close  to  the 
water. 


m 


m- 


14".  Helminthophila  celata  lutescens.     Lutescent  Warbler. 
Cormuon  at  Haines,  where  we  took  live  June  1  and  2.  > 

144.  Helminthophila  peregrina.     Tcnne.s.see  Warbler. 

Found  only  at  Caribou  Ci'ossing,  where  I  heard  four  males  singing 
and  secured  three  of  them  June  25  and  27.  They  were  in  compara- 
tively open  swamps  of  willows  and  low  spruces. 

145.  Dendroioa  SBstiva  rubiginosa.'     Alaska  Yellow  Warbler. 

1  am  positive  1  often  heard  the  .song  of  this  species  at  Bennett  June 
17-22.  I  took  an  adult  male  at  Caribou  Crossing  June  27,  anJ  think 
I  heard  the  .song  about  Lake  Marsh.     An  adult  female  wa-v  caken  by 

'.\nk,  \IV,  7tl,  123,  1897. 


M 


!    I 


II 


90 


NORTH   AMEBICAN   FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


ft 


Osgood  near  the  Nordcnskiold  River  July  22,  and  family  parties  were 
often  found  in  the  alders  and  willow  thickets  between  the  Pelly  River 
and  Circle.  I  took  a  young  from  ii  small  Hock  15  miles  above  Fort 
Yukon  August  21,  saw  one  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  August  28,  and  a  few 
I  thought  this  species  at  Hendricks  Station  August  25.  Birds  from 
the  Yukon  Valley  do  not  differ  from  those  of  the  Alaska  coast.  A 
young  female  is  duller  aljovo  and  more  huffy  telow  than  the  young 
female  of  I),  imtiva. 

146.  Dendroica  coronata  hooveri.'     Hoover  Warblor. 

We  foiuid  Hoover  warblers  common  at  Skagway,  Glacier,  Log 
Cabin,  and  Carilwu  Crossing,  and  also  noted  them  at  Haines,  Bennett, 
Lake  Tagish,  Miles  Canyon,  White  River,  Sixty-Mile  Creek,  and  12 
miles  above  Circle.  At  Skagway  May  31  they  were  still  in  flocks, 
but  at  Glacier  June  4—10  they  seemed  to  bo  mated  and  settled  for  the 
summer.  At  Log  Cabin  we  foiuid  a  flock  June  15,  but  five  days  later 
those  still  remaining  thero  were  beginning  to  neat.  A  small  flock  seen 
on  an  island  near  Sixty-Mile  Creek  August  I  showed  that  the  return 
mignition  had  Ijegun.  I  took  a  young  in  striped  plumage  August  1. 
Adult  males  average  paler  l>elow  than  typical  D.  cnrmmta^  the  black 
markings  l)eing  naiTowcr,  thus  giving  an  ett'ect  of  broad  longitudinal 
markings  rather  than  black  clouding  on  the  chest.  Eight  specimens 
of  both  sexes  average  slightly  larger  in  length  of  wing  and  tail  than 
the  corresi>t)nding  sexes  from  ea.stern  and  central  United  States.  In 
six  males,  the  ex|X)sed  culmen  avei'agesO.02  inch  longer  than  in  males 
from  Connectit^ut,  ))ut  the  l)ill  from  nostril  averages  the  same,  as  do 
both  measurements  in  females.  In  juvenile  plumage  hooveri  is  darker 
than  coronata,  the  black  markings  are  broader  and  blacker,  both 
above  and  b«>low,  and  the  brownish  edgings  to  the  feathers  greatly 
restricted— entirely  wanting  on  the  lower  parts  and  middle  back. 

147.  Dendroica  striata.     Black-poll  Warbler. 

At  Log  Cabin  .June  15  this  species  was  common,  but  on  my  return 
June  20  I  saw  only  one  pair — which  I  secured— and  one  other  male. 
July  5  1  i.  ./ok  a  male  at  Lake  Marsh.  Two  birds  taken  at  Caribou 
Crossing  ai'c  somewhat  .smaller  than  avenige  specimens  from  Dakota 
and  Connecticut. 

148.  Dendroica  townsendi.     Townsend  Warl)ler. 

Osgood  took  a  male  at  Skagway  May  31.  A.,  (rhu-ier  it  was  tolera- 
bly conunon  in  the  dense  wocds  of  spruce  and  flr,  and  imquestionably 
nesting;  altogether  we  noticed  about  twenty  individuals  during  our 
stay.  Osgood  took  an  adult  at  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Marsh  .July 
1,  and  I  an  adult  female  and  young  female  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake 


'Bull.  C'ooiier  Oriiitli.  Cliil),  I,  32,  189fl. 


I 


[NO.  19. 

arties  were 
*elly  River 
ibove  Fort 
,  and  a  few 
Hirds  from 
coast.  A 
tbo  young 


acier,  Log 
s,  Bennett, 
ek,  and  12 

in  flocks, 
led  foi-  the 

days  later 

flock  seen 
the  return 
August  1. 

the  black 
>n;,»'itudinal 
specunens 

tail  than 
states.  In 
m  in  males 


OCT.,  1900.] 


BIRDS   OF   THE    YUKON    REGION. 


91 


m 


iinie,  as  do 
/  is  darker 
ker,  l)oth 
rs  greatly 
back. 


my  return 
:^her  male, 
it  Caribou 
in  Dakota 


ras  tolora- 
38tionably 
Liring  our 
arsh  July 
3  of  Lake 


Lebargc  July  14.  The  juvenile  plumage  ditt'ers  from  that  of  /).  lunns 
only  in  being  sliglitly  less  brown  on  crown  and  back.  This  is  a  new 
species  for  the  Yulioii  Valley. 

14!).  Seiurus  noveboracensis  notabilis.     Grinnoll  Water  Thrush. 

The  first  sound  that  I  heard  on  tlie  morning  of  August  1,  when  we 
were  on  a  small  island  about  10  miles  })elow  Sixty-Mile  Creek,  was  the 
unmistakable  alarm  note  of  the  water  thrush.  This  was  the  first  time 
we  had  met  with  this  species,  and  before  starting  that  morning  on  our 
dail}^  Yukon  drift,  Osgood  and  I  each  secured  a  young  l)ird.  Near 
Forty-Mile  Creek,  Tatondu  River,  and  Charlie  Creek  water  thrushes 
were  again  met  with.  At  Circle  I  .saw  several  Augast  10-20,  took  one 
1.5  miles  above  Fort  Yukon  August  21,  and  saw  two  in  a  thicket  at 
the  Aphoon  mouth  August  28.  The  3'oung  in  fall  plumage  taken  on 
the  Yukon  are  clove-brown  above,  including  wings  and  tail  —far  darker 
than  is  usual  in  >iotahil/.s—and  have  darker  streaks  below. 

ir,(>.  Wilsonia  pusilla.     Wilson  War])ler. 

Osgood  took  an  adult  female  near  the  Chandindu  Riv(M'  August  4, 
and  I  a  young  female  near  Charlie  Village  August  11  and  a  young 
male  25  miles  above  Circle  August  12.  1  also  saw  one  80  miles  below 
Circle  August  20.  These  birds,  while  not  typical  j^mlln,  are,  like 
those  of  the  Lower  Yukon,  nearer  it  than  2>^J<'ol<ita, 

151.  Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata.     Pileolated  Warbler. 

We  found  this  the  most  a})undant  bird  at  Glaciei-  June  5-10,  fre- 
quenting the  alder  thickots  from  the  valley  as  far  as  they  extended  up 
the  hills.  1  saw  a  j'ellow  warbler  I  thought  this  species  on  White  Pass 
Suuuuit  June  12.  Pileolated  warblers  were  conunon  at  Log  Cabin, 
Bennett,  and  Caribou  Crossing,  and  I  am  confident  1  heard  them 
singing  at  Lake  Marsh.  Adult  males  from  Glacier  rcseml)le  normal 
pi/i'dlata  closely,  but  hiive  the  back  rather  more  green;  those  from  the 
Yukon  Vall(!j',  while  having  the  orange  forehead  and  lower  parts  of 
this  form,  have  the  duller  green  back  of  jHt^iUa. 

[MotndUd  oonlorlx.  Swinhoe  Wagtail.  On  the  morning  of  August 
28  t\\Q,  Jiohc/'f  /un\  on  which  1  was  a  pas.sengei,  was  hindered  from 
proceeding  l>y  a  gide  and  low  water  on  the  bar,  and  was  made  fast  to 
the  bank  at  the  Ajjhoon  mouth  of  the  Yukon.  As  I  came  on  deck  I 
sjiw  half  a  dozen  white  wagtails  ily  about  the  vessel  and  settle  in  the 
grass  close  by.  While  I  returned  for  my  gun  they  left,  but  a  thor- 
ough ac(|uaintance  with  MofacHld  alhu  in  Egypt,  where  it  is  abundant 
during  the  winter,  leaves  me  no  doubt  that  these  l)irds  were  wagtiuls.] 

152,  Anthus  pensilvanicus.     American  Pipit. 

A  nnile  tiiken  at  Skagway  flune  8  was  probably  a  belated  migrant. 
On  the  heights  above  Glacier  Osgood  saw  several  June  5,  and  we 


m 


\ 


m 


NOBTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


'S 

I 


found  them  coMinioii  at  Summit  Juno  11-13.  A  female  taken  June  13 
wiui  la3'ing,  and  a  f  renh  hut  empty  nest  I  found  the  same  day  I  attrib- 
uted to  this  species,  no  other  being  near.  '  This  nest  was  loosel}' 
formed  of  iine  di'y  grass  in  a  hollow  in  the  deep  moss  which  covered 
the  almost  perpendicular  side  of  a  bowlder  lying  on  a  hill  high  above 
Summit,  only  a  small  hole  for  entrance  showing  in  the  moss.  We 
often  saw  the  song-llight  at  Summit.  Launching  himself  with  a  sharp 
preliminary  '  chip '  from  one  of  the  granite  bowlders  that  abound 
there,  the  male  would  rise  rapidly  to  a  height  of  a  hundred  feet  or 
more,  uttering  a  sweet,  clear  song.  After  poising  high  in  air  and 
repeating  this  song  for  several  minutes  the  singer  would  slowly  float 
toward  earth  and  alight  100  yards  from  where  he  started,  soon  to  repeat 
the  same  performance.  We  found  a  pair  on  the  heights  al)ove  Ben- 
nett June  17,  and  a  few,  possibly  members  of  one  family,  at  Circle 
August  15-20. 

153.  Cinclnb  mexicanas.     American  Dipper. 

We  colle(!ted  a  female  and  set  of  four  fresh  eggs  at  the  falls  at 
Glacier  June  8.  A  single  ou/el  seen  farther  down  the  river  flune  10 
was  probably  the  mate  of  the  ore  taken.  Osgood  also  took  one  at 
Unalaska  Octolier  5. 

15-1.  Anorthura  hiemalis  pacifica.     Western  Winter  Wren. 

We  noticed  a  few  at  Glacier  June  4-10,  and  1  took  a  male  there 
Juno  ('). 

155.  Anorthura  alascensis.     Alaska  Wren. 

I  saw  one  at  St.  (loorge  Octobi^r  3,  and  we  collected  five  at  Unalaska 
October  5.     The  young  were  then  molting. 

156.  Sitta  canadensis.     Red-breasted  Nuthatch. 

I  took  a  male  at  Skagway  May  31  and  another  near  Log  Cabin 
flunc  20,  and  heard  one  on  an  island  at  the  junction  of  the  Lewos  and 
Polly  rti'jrs  July  2(?.  This  species  has  not  heretofore  been  noted  in 
the  Yukon  Valley. 

157.  Parus  atricapillus  septentrionalis.       Long-tailod  (Chickadee. 

We  took  this  species  at  Bennett  June  li>,  west  shore  of  Lak(^  Ben- 
nett Juno  24,  Caribou  Crossing  .lune  2H,  Lake  Marsh  July  7,  and  Lake 
Lebarge  July  15.  but  did  not  notice  it  again  until  we  reached  the  Lower 
Yukon,  although  chickadees  were  heard  .several  times  whose  specific 
identity  was  not  determined.  Thirty  miles  l)elow  Holy  C'ro^s  Mission 
I  took  two  August  26,  and  at  the  Aphoon  mouth  1  saw  a  small  flock 
August  28.  Young  able  to  fly  were  taken  July  7.  One  taken  August 
25  had  comi)leted  the  molt  into  first  winter  plumage,  while  an  adult 
taken  the  same  day  was  in  fresh  pluunige. 


(K,T.,iaoo.] 


BIKD8    OF   THK    YUKON    BKOION. 


5>3 


158.  Parus  hudsonicus  evura.'     Yukon  Chickadee. 

We  took  the  Yukon  chickadee  at  Caribou  Cro.s.sirif(  June  27,  Lake 
Tagish  June  30,  Lake  Mar.sh  July  5,  and  Lake  Lcbarf^(^  July  14,  and 
after  reaching  Thirty-Mile  River  July  19,  found  it  regularly  distrib- 
uted in  families  or  large  Hocks  all  the  way  to  Fort  Yukon,  1.5  miles 
above  which  I  saw  a  flock  August  21.  At  St.  Michael  I  took  a  young 
female  in  first  winter  plumage  September  20.  Young  able  to  fly  were 
first  taken  July  5  and  molting  birds  August  13.  We  took  adults  in 
full  molt  June  27,  and  one  in  which  the  molt  was  almost  completed 
July  24. 

159.  Parus  rufescens.     Chestnut-backed  Chickadee. 

We  found  a  few  at  Haines  and  Skagway,  and  I  took  one  and  heard 
another  at  Glacier  June  5.  A  female  taken  at  Skagway  June  3  had 
finished  laying. 

160.  Regulus  satrapa  olivacens.     Wei^orn  Golden-<a*owned  Kinglet. 
Tolerably  common  at  Glacier;  often  heard  but  seldom   seen,  and 

difficult  to  procure.     A  female  that  I  took  June  10  had  the  last  egg 
ready  for  the  shell. 

101.  BeguluB  calendula.     Ruby-crowned  Kinglet. 

I  took  a  male  at  Log  Cabin,  and  on  June  20,  between  that  point 
iind  liennett,  heard  another  singing.  Osgood  took  two  young  speci- 
mens, one  at  Lower  Lebargc  .luly  17,  and  the  other  20  miles  beiow 
Dawson  August  4. 

169u  Regulus  calendula  gilnnelli.'     Sitka  Kinglet. 

At  ;5l«igway  I  heard  a  Sitka  kinglet  singing  May  31,  and  at  Haines 
took  a  male  and  heard  another  singing  June  1.  At  Glacier  I  took  a 
male  .lune  <>,  and  during  our  stay  heard  two  or  three  others  singing. 
While  the  Log  Cabin  ))ird  is  normal  ealendii/a,  the  Haines  and  Glacier 
birds  have  the  more  olive  back  and  darker  sides  of  crown  of  (jrintuMI. 

163.  Myadestes  townsendi.    Townscnd  Solitaire. 

On  the  heights  above  Bennett  I  took  an  adult  male  June  17.  On 
the  hot  noon  of  June  26,  while  seated  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  some 
1,500  feet  above  Caribou  Crossing,  I  heard  the  most  beautiful  bird 
song  that  has  ever  delighted  my  ear.  It  seemed  to  combine  the 
strength  of  the  robin,  the  joyousncss  and  soaring  quality  of  the  bobo- 
link, and  the  sweetness  and  purity  of  the  wood  thrush.  Starting  low 
and  apparently  far  away,  it  gained  in  intensity  and  voliune  until  it 
filled  the  air,  and  I  looked  for  the  singer  just  above  my  head.  I 
finally  traced  the  song  to  a  Townsend  solitjiiro  that  was  seated  on 


i^^rll 


N 


'.  ¥i 


I- 

.Mi 


'Auk,  XVII,  118,  April,  1000. 


» Auk,  XIV,  3(t9,  1897. 


I;  ^-    ■» 

0' 


94 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  19. 


a  dead  tree  about  150  yards  away,  pouring  forth  this  voluuie  of  melody 
without  leaving  its  perch.  The  singer  came  close  enough  later  to 
make  identification  certain.  * 

Osgood  and  Maddren  saw  one  at  Lake  Lebargc  July  14.  Osgood 
took  an  adult  at  Miles  Canyon  July  11,  another  at  the  Semenow  Hills 
July  20,  a  young  in  the  spotted  plumage  20  miles  below  the  Selwyn 
River  July  29,  and  another  young  30  miles  above  the  White  River 
July  30.  I  saw  an  adult  near  the  Selwyn  River  July  21>,  and  took  a 
molting  adult  near  Sixty-Mile  Creek  August  1.  Mr.  Cantwell  found 
this  si)ecies  in  the  Yukon  Valley. 


ill 


lejr.  Hylocichla  alicin.    Gray -cheeked  Thrush. 

Several  thrushes  which  we  heard  singing  on  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
Marsh  July  8  were,  I  think,  this  specie?',  as  their  song  differed  from 
that  of  the  dwarf,  hermit,  and  Alma  thrushes.  1  saw  two,  l)ut  they 
were  so  shy  that  I  could  not  secure  either.  Near  Sixty-Mile  Creek, 
July  31, 1  took  a  young  in  spotted  plumage,  which  was  with  the  young 
of  almw  which  0.sgood  shot.  At  Circle  1  took  a  young  in  first  winter 
plumage,  also  with  almcB. 


1  " 

k 

iL 

105.  Hylocichla  astulata  almee.*     Alma  Thrush. 

This  is  the  common  thi-ush  of  the  Yukon  basin,  occurring  every- 
where from  Log  Cabin  to  Circle,  perhaps  in  largest  numbers  at 
Caribou  Crossing  and  Lake  Marsh.     Fifteen  miles  above  Fort  Yukon 

1  took  one,  and  saw  others  August  21.  We  found  many  nests, 
usually  6  to  10  feet  from  the  ground  in  thick  growths  of  young 
spruces,  but  none  contained  eggs.  A  nest  containing  four  young 
just,  hatched,  which  1  found  at  Caribou  Crossing  June  25,  was  about 
8  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  thicket  of  small  spruces.  The  nest  resem- 
bled that  of  //.  11.  itwainsani.  At  Miles  Canyon  July  11  we  saw 
young  al)le  to  Hy.  Osgood  took  young  in  spotted  plumage  July  31, 
but  those  taken  August  20  had  assumed  first  winter  ])lumage. 

They  were  usually  silent  by  day,  but  sang  frcijuentiy  during  the 
short  nights.  At  Caribou  Crossing,  the  last  of  Jvuit>,  their  song  could 
bo  heard  constantly  from  8  p.  m.  to  H  a.  m..  mw  taking  up  the 
stmin  as  another  stopper'  The  song  is  nmch  superior  to  that  of 
FTylocichla  ifmnhoichkai  and  almost  e({ual  to  that  of  If.  J'lutccficf/M.  It 
has  whispered  notes  like  that  of  //.  mxintellnm.  By  the  middUi  of 
July  the  song  season  was  practically  over,  though  we  iicard  one  of 
the  birds  singing  fFuly  23.  When  the  nights  ln'came  really  dark  in 
August,  I  often  heard  the  call-note  of  this  bird  near  our  camp  between 

2  and  3  a.  m. 


>Auk,  XVII,  lU),  April,  IJMX). 


OCT.,  1900.] 


BIRDS    OF   THE    YUKON    RKGION. 


96 


106.  Hylocichla  aonalaschkse.     I )wurf  Hermit  Thru.sh. 

We  heard  .several  singing  iit  Skagwiiy,  and  Osgood  took  ono  iit 
Haines  June  2.  At  Gia(^icr  they  wore  toleriil)ly  coinnion,  and  we 
secured  .several,  but  they  were  very  shy,  keeping  in  tiie  thickets  dur- 
ing the  da}'  and  .singing  for  several  houi"S  in  the  evening  from  the 
topmcst  .spray  of  some  spruce  well  up  the  mountjiinside.  Sevenil 
thrushes'  nests  in  small  spruces  <>  to  S  feet  from  the  ground  were 
empty,  for  which  condition  the  abundant  rod  .S(|uirrels  were  probably 
responsible.  At  Log  Cabin  and  Bemiett  we  heard  a  few  singing,  and 
at  Caribou  Crossing  Osgood  took  one  flune  27. 

167.  Hylocichla  aonalaschkse  pallasi.     Hermit  Thrush. 

About  15  miles  below  Little  Salmon  River  July  22  we  secured  a 
pair,  whose  nest,  containing  four  well-grown  young.  Osgood  had  found 
the  evening  before.  Far  from  .-electing  tlie  secluded  nesting  site  usual 
with  this  species,  this  pair  had  placed  their  nest  lu'twcuMi  two  small 
bunches  of  flowers  on  an  open  .southern  hillside,  just  above  a  .small 
piece  of  burnt  poplar  woodland,  and  exposed  to  the  full  glare  of  the 
sun. 

168.  Meruli  migratoria.     American  Robin. 

Tolerably  conunon  at  Haines  and  Skagway,  but  not  found  at  Gla- 
cier. At  Haines  I  took  a  female  and  four  well-incubated  eggs  June  2. 
Robins  were  conunon  at  Log  Cabin  .hine  15,  and  were  found  regu- 
larly, but  in  gradually  decreasing  numbers,  until  August  1,  when  the 
last  was  noted  near  Sixty-Mile  Creek.  A  flock  seen  July  29  showed 
that  the  southern  migration  had  commenced.  We  found  an  empty 
nest  30  miles  below  Dawson  and  heard  that  the  birds  bred  near  Fort 
Yukon. 

Although  robins  were  bv  no  means  common  at  Caribou  Crossing,  I 
found,  on  June  25,  18  empty  nests,  most  of  them  evidently  built 
that  year,  and  4  empty  nests  of  the  Alma  thrush,  in  a  small  paU'h  of 
spruces.  The  red  squirrels  which  lived  in  a  hollow  tree  near  by 
probal)ly  knew  the  location  of  most  of  these  nests.  Osgood  took  a 
well-grown  young  robin  here  on  June  26. 

169.  Hesperocichla  nsevia.     Varied  Thi'ush. 

At  Haines  I  saw  .several  .June  I,  and  Osgood  took  one  June  2.  At 
Glacier  varied  thrushes  were  rather  conunon,  l»ut  exceedingly  .shy. 
About  an  hour  before  sunset  they  would  fly  to  the  top  of  .some  tall 
tree  and  repeatedly'  utter  a  long-drawn,  plaintive  whistle  until  dark- 
ness fell.  Sometimes  on  cloudy  days  we  would  heai-  their  song,  but 
it  was  infre(|uent  and  had  about  stopped  when  we  h^ft  (ilacier,  Juno 
11.  We  next  .saw  this  species  near  the  Tatchun  River,  where  I  took 
a  young  bird  July  23.    Thirty  miles  below  Dawson  we  took  young, 


ll'fll 


Hi 


Ml 


96 


NORTH    AMERICAN    FAUNA. 


[NO.  I'.l. 


and  met  with  tho  birds  several  tinier  until  August  21,  when  lui'ge 
flocky  were  ween  near  Fort  Yukon. 

At  Glacier  I  found  on  June  7  a  nest  containing  four  eggs,  varying 
from  fresh  to  several  days  incubated.  It  was  very  large,  built  of 
sticks  and  moss  and  lined  with  dry  grass,  and  was  situated  15  feet 
from  the  ground,  near  the  top  of  a  small  spruce  growing  \n  dense 
woods  a  short  distance  from  the  river.  When  1  put  my  hand  on 
the  tree,  the  female  flew  from  the  nest  with  a  hoarse,  cackling  cry  and 
settled  a  few  feet  away;  the  male  did  not  appear.  The  eggs  average 
1.25  by  0.84  inches  and  are  nile  blue  sparingly  spotted  with  <5cru  drab 
and  seal  brown. 

170.  Saxicola  (snanthe.     Wheatear. 

Osgood  saw  two  young  wheatears  at  Circle  August  19,  and  secured 
one.  At  the  Aphoon  mouth  I  shot  one  on  August  27,  which  fell  ^nto 
the  river  and  was  carried  away  by  the  rapid  current,  but  I  saw  tiie 
white  rump  plainly. 

171.  Sialia  arctica.     Mountain  Bluebird. 

We  found  a  pair  on  Fifty-Mile  River  a  short  distance  above  Miles 
Canyon  July  10.  The  next  day  1  secured  the  female  and  found  the 
nest  with  four  well-incubated  eggs  in  a  hole  about  8  feet  from  the 
ground  in  a  dead  spruce  in  the  midst  of  a  burnt  tract.  July  22  I 
shot  a  male  near  the  point  where  Fifty-Mile  River  empties  »nto  Lake 
Lebarge.     Mr.  Cantwcll  also  found  this  species  on  Fifty-Mile  River. 


INDEX, 


[Namcidf  iKW  sjn'cius  in  lilurk-fHvc  type] 


Abies  Inslooarpn,  9, 16. 
Ai'iiMthis  t.'Xilipo8,8°.2. 

Iinnria,8'.>. 
Aci'lpitcT  ntrii'iiplllns,  73. 

volo.x,  Ti. 
Actiti.s  innciilaria,  C9. 
.Eeliiiuipliorii.s  occideutAlls,  57. 
.KKialitls  semipalmata,  70. 
Alaska  tniidra  district,  1.5-10. 
Albatross,  short-tailed,  (iO-61. 
Alct'»gigas,23. 
Almissiiiuata,9,  Ifi. 
Ami'laiichlfr  alnitolia,  10. 
Ammod  ramus  alaudlmis,  S;}-8I. 

sandwichensis,  US. 
Ampelis  garnilus,  88-8'J. 
Anas  boschas,  t;i-62. 
Andromeda  poUfolia,  15. 
Anorthnra  alasccnsiH,9'i. 

pacifica,92. 
Anser  gambeli.tH. 
Anthiis  pensilvanicns, 91-92. 
Aroliibiiteo  Ingopus,  73. 
.Vrctomys  caligatus,  31-32. 
.\rctostaphylos  uvaursi,9, 10. 
.\renaria  melanoeephala.  71. 
Anemi.>iia  arctiea,  15-16. 

Jrigida,ll,12. 
Asio  acclpitrinus,  70. 
Aulclet,  least,  58. 
Aythyanfflnis.fii'. 

marila,62. 
Baldpate,62. 
Bat,  little  brown, «. 
Bear, -Vlaska  grizzly,  11. 

black,  41. 
Beaver,  American,  32. 
Belnla  Klandulosa, '.),  10. 

nana,  16. 

papyrifera,  11. 
Birds,  cliissifieil  lists  of,.)l-,57. 
Blackbird,  rusty,  81. 
Bluebird,  mountain,  9(i. 
Bonasii  umbelloides,  71. 
Brachyrami>luis  marnioratus, 58. 
Brania  hutchingi,64. 
BuIh)  pallescens, 76-77 
Buffalo  berry,  10. 
Bume-head,G3. 
Buteo  calurus,  73. 
Calcarins  alaseensls,  83. 
Calidris  arenaria.67. 
L'amichites  osgondi,  19, 71. 
Canadian  Yuknu  district,  10-13. 
Canis  (iccidentalis,  10. 
(.'aribou,  barren  ground, 23. 

mountain,  22. 
('assioi)oa  tetraguna,  15. 
Castor  eainidensis,32. 

441)4— No.  19 — 


Ccpphus  columba,.').s. 
Ceryle  iilcyon,77. 
Chamacistiis  i)roeumbens,  16. 
Chaniienerion  angustifoliuni,  13. 
Charadrius  fulvus,70. 
Charitonetta  all)eola,0;j. 
Chen  liyperlK)rea,64. 
Chickadee,  chestnut-backed,  93. 

long-tailed,  92. 

Yukon,  93. 
Chipmunk,  gray-headed,  28-29. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  79. 
Clndus  mexicaniis,  92. 
Circus  liud.sonius,  72. 
Clangula  americana,62. 
Clivicohi  riparia,  88. 
Coccothraustes  montaniis, 81-82. 
Colaptes  lutens,  78. 
Colymbus  holba'lli,57. 
Contopus  borealls,  79. 

saturatus,  19, 79-80. 
Cormorant,  iwlagic,  61. 

red-faced,  01. 

violet-green,  61. 
Corvus  americanus,  81. 

caurinus,  81. 

principalis,  81. 
Crane,  little  brown, 65. 
Crossbill,  red,  82, 

\vhite-wingetl,82. 
Crow,  .American,  81. 

northwest,  81. 
Crymophilus  fnlicarius, 6.5. 
Curlew,  Hudsonian,  69. 
Cyanocitta  stelleri,  80. 
Dallla  acuta,  62. 
Dendragnpus  fuliginosus,  71. 
Dendroica  hooveri,90. 

rubiginosa,89. 

.striata,  90. 

townsendi,  yo-lM . 
Dicrostonyx  «la.scensi.s, 20, 38. 

nelsoni,20, 38. 
Diomedea  albatrns,  60-61. 
Dipper,  American,  92, 
Dryobates  hyloscopus,  77 

leueomelas,  77.  ■    ". 

Duek,liarle<iuin,63. 

lesser  scaup,  62. 

scaup,  62. 
Eagle,  gray  sea,  73. 

northern  bald,  71. 
Killer,  raeilie,  63. 
Enipetruni  nigrum,  9, 10. 
EmpitUinax  alnorum,.80. 

li»mniondi,80. 
Hquisetum,13, 14. 
luetliizon  myops, 20, 38. 
KutuiulaM  ('Rlllv«|is,  19,28-29. 


U7 


'  i 


i 


98 


INDEX. 


I'n 


«  HI 


U     • 

if        , 

}l  ; 


Evotomys  nlnscensis,  85. 

dinysoni,H4. 
Falcoiiiiiitum,"4. 

coIiimbnrlu?,76. 

pi'nlel,  75. 

rlcliHrfl.wni,?.'). 

nisticdliis,  74. 

»pnrvcrlu8,7r). 
Falcon,  Pcnie,  75. 
Fiiunnlti|striets,8-is. 
FIlMT  npitulatas,  19, 34>-37. 
Fisher,  44. 

FUc'kor,  northern,  7S. 
Flycatcher,  nlder,  80. 

Hammond,  80. 

ollvc-»i(U-<l,79. 
Fox,  Hnll  Island, 41. 

red,  41. 
Fratcrcula  cornlcnlata,  57. 
Fulmar,  Pncilic,  til. 
Fulmnnis  gliiplscha,  fil, 
Galihingo  dclicata,  Cb. 
Gavia  arctica,  57. 

imber,  57. 
Goat,  mountain,  25. 
Gnldcn-eye,  American,  <>2. 
Goose,  American  wliite-Jronted,  04. 

emperor.  64. 

Hutchins,  CA. 

lesfer  snow,  04. 
Gosliawlf.  American,  73. 
Grebe,  Ilolbu-ll,  .57. 

western,  57. 
Grosbeak,  Alaska  pine,  82. 

western  evening.  81-,s2. 
Grouse,  Alaska.  71. 

gray  ruffed,  71. 

.sooty,  71. 
Grus  canadensis,  05. 
Guillemot,  pigeon,  as. 
Gull.  American  herring.  .59. 

Bona|>arte,  00. 

Klaucou.s-wingcd,  ,59. 

I'oint  Barrow,  69. 

Saljine,  00. 

short-billed,  ,59-00. 
Gulo  luscus.  44. 
Gyrfalcon,  gray,  74. 
Hare,  Alaska  arctic,  40. 

Dall  varying,  40. 
Harelda  liyemalis,  03. 
Haliaetus  alascanus,  71. 

albicilla,  73. 
Hawk,  duck,  74. 

American  sparmw,  75. 

marsh.  72. 

pigeon.  75. 

rough-legged,  73. 

sharji-shinncd,  72. 

western  red-tailed,  73. 
Helminthophila  eclata,  wi. 

lutescens,  89. 

peregrina,  89. 
Hclodromas  cinnamomeus,  08 
Hcsperocichla  na;via,  95-90. 
Ucsperomys  arcticus,  33. 
Heteraetitis  incanus,  09. 
Uiruudo  unalaschkcnsis,  87. 


Histrionicus  liistriontciis,  03. 
Hudsonian  Yuknn  district,  i;<-15. 
Hunnningbird,  rufous,  79. 
Uylociehla  aliei*,  91. 

almie.  94. 

aonalaschklB,  95. 

pallasi,  95. 
JcDger,  long-tailed,  5s. 

parasitic,  58. 
Jay,  Alaska.  80-81. 

Steller,  80. 
Junco,  Oregon,  80. 

Khufeldt,  86. 

slate-colored,  85-86. 
.lunco  eonnectens,  86. 

hycmaiis,  8.5-86. 

oregonus,  80. 
Junipems  nana,  9,  10,  13. 
Kalmia  '<lauca,  VC. 
Kinptisher,  belted,  77. 
Kinglet,  ruljy-crowned.  '.I3. 

Kitka,  93. 

western  golden-crowned,  ii3. 
Kittiwakc,  I'acifie,  .58. 

reil-legged,  ,58. 
Lagopus  lagopus,  71. 

leucurus.  72. 

nelsoni,  72. 

rnpestris.  72. 
Lari.x  ameri'^ana,  14. 
Larus  tiarrovianus,  ,59. 

brachyrliynehus,  ,59-00. 

glaucescens,  ,59. 

Philadelphia,  CO. 

smithsonianus,  .59. 
Ledum  gra'nlandicum.  10. 

palustrc,  15. 
Lemming,  Alaska,  38. 

Nels<jn  pied,  3\ 

Yukon.  37-:i8. 
Lemmus  alascensis,  20.  38. 

yukiincnsis,  20.  37-38. 
Lepargyneii  canadensis.  10. 
Lepus  dalli,  20,  40. 

otluis,  20,  40. 

KallcilH,  19,  39-40. 
Lcucosticte,  Aleiuian.  n2. 

Hepburn.  82. 
I,eucosticte  griseonudui,  82. 

littoralis,  82. 
Longspur.  Alaska,  83. 
LtHHl,  57. 

black-throated,  .57. 
Loxia  leiu'optera,  82. 

minor,  82. 
Lnnda  cirrhata,  57. 
Lutra  canadensis,  41. 
liUtrooIiiliiKciis,  19.  42. 
Lyini  <'«nal  district,  8-9. 
Lynx,arcll<,40. 
Lyn.x  mollii)ilosus,20,40. 
Magpie,  American,  80. 
Mairania  alpina,1,5. 
Malhiril,  01-<i2. 
Mammals,  list,  22. 
Mareea  amcricana,  02. 
Marmot,  hoary,  31-32. 
Marten,  Alaska,  43-44. 


INDEX. 


»9 


Megnncops  kcnnicotti,  7(1. 
Mtlosplzft  clnorea,  86. 

lliK'olnl,  Sfi. 

rullim,  80. 

slriatn,  8t>. 
MtTKiiiiMT,  American,  01. 
MiTKiinser  amorlcanus,  01. 
Merlin,  RIchnrdson,  76. 
Meriila  mlgratoria,  95. 
Miorotus  (Iruinini)iidl,  3&-36. 

iiiorilax,  17, 35. 

(ipcrariiLs,  30. 

xanthogiiHlhus,  30. 
Mink,  Aln.skn,  12. 
M(H)se,  Alaska,  23. 
MotaeiUft  ocularis,  91. 
Mouse,  Alaska  jumping,  38. 

Arctic  whitc-f(M,totl,  33. 

Bangs  white-ffmted,  32-33. 

Dall  lemming,  37. 

Dawson  red-backed,  34. 

tundra  red-backed.  35. 
Mnrre,  J'allas,  bs. 
JIurrelet,  marbled,  58. 
Mus  decMtmanus,  32. 
JIuskrat,  northwest,  36-37. 
MuHtt'la  actuoHi,  19, 43-1 1. 

I>cnnanti,  M. 
Myadcstes  townscndl,  93-94. 
Myosotis  alpcstrls,  10. 
Myotis  lucitugus,  45. 
Neutonia  saxanians,  19,  ;);)-34. 
Nottion  carolinensis,  02. 
New  si)ecics,  19. 
Niglithawk,  79. 
Numenius  hudsonicus,  09. 
Nuthatch,  red-brcasti'd,  92. 
Nyctala  riehardsoni,  70. 
Occanodroma  furcata,  01. 
Ochotona  coUaris,  38-39. 
Oidemia  americann,  03. 

deglandi.  Oil. 

pcrspicillatii,  03-(;i. 
Old-squaw,  03. 
Olor  columbianus,li5. 
t)reaninos  montanus,  25. 
Osprey,  American. 70. 
Otter,  American,  41. 
OvLsdalli,  24-2.5. 

stonei,24. 
Owl, great  gray,  70. 

American  hawk,  77. 

Kennicott  screech,  70. 

Richardson,  70. 

short-cared,  70. 

western  liorncd,  70-77. 
Pandion  ('nrolineusis,  70. 
I'arus  evurn,93. 

rufescen.s,  93. 

sei>tcntri(malis,92. 
Pas-serella  iliaca,87. 

town.«endi,87. 
ra.s.seriini  nivalis,  83. 
I'erisoreus  Jumifrons, .sO-81. 
Peromyscus  nrcticu«,  33. 

orca.-',  32-33. 
Petrel,  forked-tailed,  01. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,87. 


Pewee,  Alaska  wikkI,  79-N). 
Phalacrocorax  pelagicus.Ol. 

robnstus.Ol. 

urile.Ol. 
Phnlarope,  northern  05. 

red,  05. 
Phalaropus  lobatiis.0.5. 
I'hllacte  canagica,04. 
PlKebe,  Yukon,  79. 
Pica  hudsonica.so. 
Picea  canadensis,  10. 

sitchcnsis,  9. 
Plcoidcs  alascensis,  78. 

arct  lens.  77-78. 
Ilka.  Alaska,  3S-39. 
PInlcola  alascensis,  82. 
PlnUill,02. 
Plnus  niurrMynna.9, 13, 10. 17. 

sitchensis,  9. 
Pipit,  American,  91-92. 
Plover,  black-bellied,  70. 

PaclticKol<len.70. 

.seniipalmated.70. 
Polemonitnn  liuniile,  10. 
Populus  balsam  if  era,  9. 

tremuloides,  s,  9. 
Porcupine,  .\laska.  38. 
Ptarmigan,  Nelson,  72. 

rock.  72. 

white-tailed.  72. 

willow.  71. 
Puffin,  horned,. 57. 
'  tnfteil..57. 

I'utorius  alascensis, 43. 

arcticus,  42-13. 

cskimo.20, 43. 

riehardsoni,  42. 
Rangifer  arcticus, 23. 

montanus,  22. 

tarainlns,23. 
Rat,  northern  bushy-tailed,  33-31. 

Norway.  32. 
Raven,  northern,  si. 
Redpoll,  82. 

hoary.  82. 
Rcgulus  calendula, 93. 

grinnclli,93. 

olivaceus.  93. 
Reindeer,  domesticated. 23. 
Ribes  laxillorum,9. 
Ris«a  lirevirostrls.  !JS. 

pollicaris..'>s. 
Robin.  .\ni','rican.95. 
Rosa  cinnamomea,  14. 
Rubus  arcticus,  10. 

chanuemorus,  10. 
Sandcrling.  07. 
.Sandpiper.  Aleutian, iki. 

Baird,07. 

least,  07. 

pectoral.  00. 

Priliilot.OO. 

red-baekcd,07. 

sharp-tailed,  00. 

spotted.  09. 

western  solitary, Os. 
.*apsuckcr,  reil-breasted,  78. 
SaxicoUi  a'nanthe,90. 


.i    i 


i    >. 


100 


INDKX. 


ii 


"li 


SayoriilN  .viikoncngiR.lO,  79. 
HrluruptrruN  fukunrimlii,  10, 2.V'Jii. 
Sciiinis  hiulHnnlcliK,  26-27. 

prtaUiiN,  lU,  27-28. 

vniicoiivi'rensi»,27. 
ScolectiphiiguH  ciirollnuR,  HI. 
ScotiT,  ,\imTi('nn,t'i3. 

Mirf,('.;t-ti4. 

\vhllf-\vliiKC<l,(i8. 
S(i)tlai>ti'.\  clnt'rfn.'O. 
Si'lunis  notiibllis.gi. 
SeliisiilKinis  rufiis,79. 
Sheep.  Dull  iniiuntnin,2l-2.'>. 
Shrew,  II  relic,  41. 

mi)mitnlii,4.i. 

i<treiitnr,44. 

tuiulni,4-"i. 
S'inliii  iirctidi,  W. 
Siinorhyni'hu!*  pnslllus,.'vS. 
.Siskin.  pIno.Ki. 
Pittii  caiiadensiM,  'J2. 
Snipe,  Wilwm.C).'). 
.Sn<>w(l«ko,83. 
S<  vlitaire,  Townsond,  9:}-!M. 
Somnteria  v-nlgrn,C3. 
Sore.x  arrtlcus,20,44. 

ohscunis,  4.'i. 

streatori,44. 

tun(lrensis,20,48. 
Sparrow.  .Mentian  sonK,8<i. 

F(irljiish,x(i. 

Fo.\,s7. 

polden-crowned,  84. 

intermediate,  84. 

Linci)ln,K(l. 

sandwleh.s:!. 

sooty  song,. SI. 

Townsend  fo.\,  87. 

western  chipping, 85. 

westcni  savanna,  8;i-84. 

western  tree,  84-8.'i. 
.«permophiliis  ()sgoodi,20,31. 

pIpalUH,  19,29-31. 
.Sphyrapicus  nilier,  7S. 
.spinus  jiinus.  .h3. 
Spizella  arizonK,  8.i. 

oehrai'ea,S4-8.'>. 
Siiuatarola  scjiiatarola,  70. 
.^(lUirrel,  Bennett  gromid, 29-31. 

Fort  Yukon  ^Tound,  31. 

Hudson  Bay  reiI,2r)-27. 

Yukon  flying,  2o-2ii. 
Stercorarius  longieaudus, .t8. 

parasiticus,  .V. 
Sterna  paradisaca.tiO. 
.Sumia  caparoch,  77. 
Swallow,  .Maska, 87. 

bank.ss. 

elifT,.s7. 

tree, 87. 

violct-grccn,  88. 
Swan,  whistling,  65. 
Symphemia  ;noniata,G9. 
Synaptomys  dalli,  37. 
Taehycincta  bicolor.  ^7. 

thalas.sina.fN. 
Tattler,  wandering,  69, 


'ruHl,green-winKe<l,63, 
Tern,  arctic,  tiO. 
ThniNh,Alina,94. 

dwarf  hermit, ftS. 

gray-cheeked,  91. 

hermit,  9-'). 

varied,  9.>- 96. 
Thuja  i)llcata,  16. 
Totanus  flavipes,  68. 
Tringa  acuminata,  66. 

l)airdl,67. 

couesl.C)."). 

maculala,66. 

mlnntilla,67. 

pacilica,67. 

pliliK?neml»,66. 
Tsugu  mortensinna,9. 
Turnstone,  black,  71. 
Tussilago  frigida,  16. 
I'ria  arra,  58. 
I'rsus  alasi^ensis,  41. 

americanus,  41. 
V'acciuinm  ovallfolliim,9. 

vitislda.'a,  15. 
Viburnum  pauciflorum,  10. 
Vole,  Drummond,  35-36. 

long-tailed,  35. 

Nelson,  36. 

yellow-ehecke<l,,S6. 
Vulpes  fnlvus,41. 

hallensis,20,41. 
Wagtail,  Swinhoe,  91. 
Warbler,  Alaska  yellow,  89-90. 

blaek-i>oll,90. 

H<x)ver,  90. 

lutcscent,  89. 

orange-crowne<l,  89. 

pileolated,91. 

Tennessee,  89. 

Townsend,  90-91. 

Wilson,  91. 
Water  thrush,  Grinnell, 91. 
Waxwing,  Bohemian, 88-89. 
Weasel,  Alaska  least,  13. 

.luneau,  43. 

tundra,  42-43. 
Wheatear,  96. 
White  I'a.ss  district, 9-10. 
Willet,  western,  69. 
Wilsouiaplleolata,91. 

pusilla,91. 
Wolf,  10. 
Wolverine,  44. 
Woodiiccker,  .Vlaska  threotoed,  78. 

arctic  three-toed,  77-78. 

Crtbanis,  77. 

northern  hairy,  77. 
Wren,  Alaska,  92. 

western  winter,  92. 
Xenia  sabinii,60. 
Yellow-leg^68. 
Yukon  flats,  14. 
ZapuH  alascensi8,38. 
Zones,  lu. 
Zoiiotrichla  coronata,84. 

gambeli,84. 


V' 


